Network device including central and distributed switch fabric subsystems

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 7039046
SERIAL NO

09613940

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ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

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Abstract

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The present invention reduces the cost of a minimally configured network device by providing a network device with a distributed switch fabric. Such a network device locates a portion of the switch fabric functionality on each forwarding card allowing the minimal network device configuration to include less than the entire switch fabric functionality. The cost of the minimal configuration is, therefore, reduced allowing network service providers to more quickly recover the initial cost of the network device. As new services are requested, additional functionality, including both forwarding cards and universal port cards may be added to the network device to handle the new requests, and the fees for the new services may be applied to the cost of the additional functionality. Consequently, the cost of the network device more closely tracks the service fees received by network providers.

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Patent Owner(s)

  • CIENA CORPORATION

International Classification(s)

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Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Bell, Colin Acton, MA 7 175
Branscomb, Brian Hopkinton, MA 24 1581
Everdell, Peter B Littleton, MA 7 368
Manor, Larry B Londonderry, NH 1 27
Noel, Chris R Acton, MA 6 461
Simons, Corey Waltham, MA 7 214

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