Importance

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Abstract

An upgrade arrangement wherein the switching functions of an in-service switch or cross-connect system are transferred or 're-homed' onto a new, larger capacity switch via the existing input and output ports of the original system. The re-homing can be performed without loss of service, even if the original system is operating at full-capacity. By exploiting the protection redundancy engineered into existing telecommunication switching systems, all of the signals being routed through the original switch are temporarily consolidated onto only one-half of the switching fabric normally required to accommodate such connectivity. This signal consolidation allows half of the original switch ports to be brought off-line (without a service disruption), and linked to the new, higher capacity switching fabric. The signals that had been consolidated within the original switching fabric are then re-routed onto the new switching fabric (via the linked ports), and the other half of the original switch ports are brought off-line and linked to the new switching fabric. The re-routed signals (still being switched in a consolidated format within the new switching fabric) are then redistributed (unconsolidated) among the linked ports and the new switching fabric so that a normal switching pattern is reestablished. Re-homing the signals onto a single new switching fabric allows all connections to be managed from a single control point. In addition, the re-homing to the new switching fabric is operationally transparent (timing and protocols within the switching system are unaffected, and full non-blocking access is maintained), and all existing cabling to and from the original input and output ports remains intact and functioning. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the input and output ports of the original switching fabric are linked to the new switching fabric via electro/optic interfaces, which replace the standard input and output circuits of the original system.

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First Claim