Interconnect system and method for ethernet networks
View Patent ↗A system and method for data communication is provided. The system includes a first port, a transmission layer module and a signaling layer module. The transmission layer module supports a first priority and a second priority. The signaling layer module can route data between the first port and a second port and can route data between the first port and a third port. The signaling layer module supports alternate routing if one or both of the second port and the third port fail.
1. A network controller for controlling data communication, the network controller comprising:
a first port;
a transmission layer module coupled to the first port, the transmission layer module being operable to enable a first data path and being operable to enable a second data path, the first data path comprising the first port and a second port, the first data path being associated with a first priority, the second data path comprising the first port and a third port, the second data path being associated with a second priority; and
a signaling layer module coupled to the transmission layer module, the signaling layer module being operable to route data over the first data path according to the first priority and being operable to route data over the second data path according to the second priority, wherein the signaling layer module is operable to implement alternate routing if one or both of the second port and the third port fail.
2. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the first port comprises an optical transceiver.
3. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the first port supports duplex communication.
4. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the transmission layer module is operable to detect a receiver buffer overrun condition.
5. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the transmission layer module is operable to receive data from the signaling layer module and is operable to transmit data via the first port.
6. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the transmission layer module is operable to receive data via the first port and is operable to send data to the signaling layer module.
7. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the first port is operable to transmit data over an Ethernet network and is operable to receive data over an Ethernet network.
8. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the first data path is associated with a first link speed and the second data path is associated with a second link speed, the first link speed being different from the second link speed.
9. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the transmission layer module comprises a port control module.
10. The network controller of claim 1 , wherein the signaling layer module comprises a connectivity module.
11. A method for controlling data communication, the method comprising:
enabling a first data path and a second data path, the first data path comprising a first port and a second port, the first data path being associated with a first priority, the second data path comprising the first port and a third port, the second data path being associated with a second priority;
routing data over one or both of the first data path and the second data path according to the first priority and the second priority;
determining whether the second port failed;
determining whether the third port failed; and
enabling an alternate data path when one or both of the second port and the third port fail.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first port comprises an optical transceiver.
13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first port supports duplex communication.
14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises monitoring for a receiver buffer overrun condition associated with data received by the first port.
15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises receiving data from a signaling layer module and transmitting data via the first port.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises receiving data via the first port and sending data to a signaling layer module.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises receiving data from a transmission layer module and transmitting data via the first port.
18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises receiving data via the first port and sending data to a transmission layer module.
19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the method comprises transmitting data over an Ethernet network and receiving data over an Ethernet network.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first data path is associated with a first link speed and the second data path is associated with a second link speed, the first link speed being different from the second link speed.