Span interface module for a telecommunications switching platform

Abstract

An interface module capable of responding to heartbeat messages and identifying itself as operational over one bus or both buses of a redundant-pair control bus. The module also has a reprogrammable, nonvolatile memory associated with it from which the module can run its operating code. The module can also transfer the operating code into another memory, allowing it to make updates to the operating code stored in the nonvolatile memory without interrupting its execution of its run-time operating code.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An interface module for use in a telecommunications switching platform for switching information channels borne on telecommunications signals connected to said interface module, said interface module comprising: a control bus interface connected to a control bus within said telecommunications switching platform;   a controller connected to said control bus interface, said controller operable to communicate with other elements in said telecommunications switching platform through said control bus interface, said controller further operable to receive a primary heartbeat message as a part of said communication with said other elements and to transmit a primary heartbeat response upon receipt of said primary heartbeat message.   
     
     
       2. The interface module of claim 1 wherein said primary heartbeat response includes data sufficient to identify said interface module such that said telecommunications switching platform can compare said data to a table of known resources to determine whether the existence of said interface module had previously been detected by said telecommunications switching platform. 
     
     
       3. The interface module of claim 1 wherein said control bus is a pair of redundant control buses comprising a primary control bus and a secondary control bus. 
     
     
       4. The interface module of claim 3 wherein said interface module is further operable to receive through said control bus interface a secondary heartbeat message, which is received by said control bus interface from said secondary control bus. 
     
     
       5. The interface module of claim 4 wherein said interface module is one of a plurality of resources in the telecommunications switching platform, and wherein a first group of said plurality of resources is operable to use one of the redundant control buses as a primary bus and a second group of said plurality of resources is operable to use the other of the redundant control buses as a primary bus, and wherein said interface module is operable to determine which of said primary heartbeat messages are intended for said interface module. 
     
     
       6. The interface module of claim 5 wherein said control bus interface is operable to determine within said interface module which of said primary heartbeat messages are intended for the group to which said interface module belongs. 
     
     
       7. The interface module of claim 5 wherein said controller is operable to determine within said interface module which of said primary heartbeat messages are intended for the group to which said interface module belongs. 
     
     
       8. The interface module of claim 4 wherein said secondary heartbeat message is addressed to only one interface module. 
     
     
       9. The interface module of claim 8 wherein said control bus interface is operable to determine whether said secondary heartbeat message is addressed to said interface module. 
     
     
       10. The interface module of claim 8 wherein said controller is operable to determine whether said secondary heartbeat message is addressed to said interface module. 
     
     
       11. An interface module for use in a telecommunications switching platform for switching information channels borne on telecommunications signals connected to said interface module, said interface module comprising: a control bus interface connected to a redundant pair of control buses within said telecommunications switching platform, said redundant pair of control buses comprising a primary control bus and a secondary control bus; and   a module controller connected to said control bus interface, said module controller operable to communicate with other elements in said telecommunications switching platform through said control bus interface, said module controller further operable: to receive a primary heartbeat message, which was received by said control bus interface from said primary control bus; to transmit a primary heartbeat response upon receipt of said primary heartbeat message; to receive a secondary heartbeat message, which was received by said control bus interface from said secondary control bus; and to transmit a secondary heartbeat response upon receipt of said secondary heartbeat message.   
     
     
       12. The interface module of claim 11 wherein each of said primary heartbeat response and said secondary heartbeat response is sufficient to identify said interface module such that said telecommunications switching platform can compare said data to a table of known resources to determine whether the existence of said interface module had previously been detected by said telecommunications switching platform. 
     
     
       13. An interface module for use in a telecommunications switching platform for switching information channels borne on telecommunications signals connected to said interface module, said interface module comprising: a nonvolatile memory;   another memory;   a local communications controller operable to communicate with other elements in said telecommunications switching platform through a control bus; and   a module controller connected to said nonvolatile memory, said another memory, and said local communications controller, said module controller operable to control the operation of said interface module, said module controller further operable: to perform operations according to instructions stored in said nonvolatile memory; to effect the transfer of instructions from said nonvolatile memory to said another memory; to perform other operations according to instructions stored in said another memory; and to effect the loading of new operating instructions from the telecommunication switching platform's higher-level applications into said nonvolatile memory through said local communications controller.   
     
     
       14. The interface module of claim 13 wherein said module controller is operable to effect said loading of new operating instructions at substantially the same time as said module controller is performing said other operations according to instructions stored in said another memory. 
     
     
       15. The interface module of claim 14 wherein said module controller is operable to effect said loading of new operating instructions substantially without interruption of its operation according to instruction stored in said another memory. 
     
     
       16. An interface module for use in a telecommunications switching platform for switching information channels borne on telecommunications signals connected to said interface module, said interface module comprising: a plurality of line interfaces for connection to telecommunication signals connected to said telecommunication switching platform;   a bus multiplexer connected to said plurality of line interfaces, said bus multiplexer operable to time-multiplex said telecommunication signals onto a high-speed bus;   a nonvolatile memory;   another memory;   a local communications controller operable to communicate with other elements in said telecommunications switching platform through a control bus; and   a module controller connected to said bus multiplexer, said nonvolatile memory, said another memory, and said local communications controller, said module controller operable to control the operation of said interface module, said module controller further operable: to perform operations according to instructions stored in said nonvolatile memory; to effect the transfer of instructions from said nonvolatile memory to said another memory; to perform other operations according to instructions stored in said another memory; and to effect the loading of new operating instructions from the telecommunication switching platform's higher-level applications into said nonvolatile memory through said local communications controller.   
     
     
       17. The interface module of claim 16 wherein said module controller is operable to effect said loading of new operating instructions at substantially the same time as said module controller is performing said other operations according to instructions stored in said another memory. 
     
     
       18. The interface module of claim 17 wherein said module controller is operable to effect said loading of new operating instructions substantially without interruption of its operation according to instruction stored in said another memory. 
     
     
       19. The interface module of claim 18 wherein said new operating instructions are downloaded from higher-level elements in the telecommunications switching platform and wherein said operating,instructions are uniquely identified by the format of the download of said operating instructions. 
     
     
       20. The interface module of claim 19 wherein said download of said operating instructions includes a header identifying the module and process within the telecommunications switching platform on which said operating instructions are to run.