Abstract: A system and method for transferring information at a fast rate between add-in cards in a rack mount system are described. In one embodiment, the invention allow all the add-in cards within the rack mount system to be interconnected. All the main cards within the rack mount system connect to a switch card using point-to-point differential copper pairs. All communication over these differential copper pairs use a messaging protocol that provides a messaging protocol destination address that is used to route the information to the intended destination main card. The messaging protocol may be the Ethernet protocol. In an alternative embodiment, data redundancy is provided by having two switch cards in the rack mount system. A particular main card transmits one set of information to the first switch card and a second set of information (that is identical to the first set of information) to the second switch card.

Abstract: A method of improving network interface reliability uses a fail-over mechanism. When one network card becomes disabled, a second network card takes its place. A mid-plane separates the network card into a transition portion and a main portion. Cables are connected to the transition portion, and allows input and output from a particular network card to be re-routed to another network card without the need to physically alter the external cables.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring information at a fast rate between add-in cards in a rack mount system are described. In one embodiment, the invention allow all the add-in cards within the rack mount system to be interconnected. All the main cards within the rack mount system connect to a switch card using point-to-point differential copper pairs. All communication over these differential copper pairs use a messaging protocol that provides a messaging protocol destination address that is used to route the information to the intended destination main card. The messaging protocol may be the Ethernet protocol. In an alternative embodiment, data redundancy is provided by having two switch cards in the rack mount system. A particular main card transmits one set of information to the first switch card and a second set of information (that is identical to the first set of information) to the second switch card.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring information at a fast rate between add-in cards in a rack mount system are described. In one embodiment, the invention allow all the add-in cards within the rack mount system to be interconnected. All the main cards within the rack mount system connect to a switch card using point-to-point differential copper pairs. All communication over these differential copper pairs use a messaging protocol that provides a messaging protocol destination address that is used to route the information to the intended destination main card. The messaging protocol may be the Ethernet protocol. In an alternative embodiment, data redundancy is provided by having two switch cards in the rack mount system. A particular main card transmits one set of information to the first switch card and a second set of information (that is identical to the first set of information) to the second switch card.

Abstract: In a Compact PCI system, a method and apparatus for bridging multiple PCI segments in a chassis utilizing backplane connections, instead of a front side component slot. Embodiments of the present invention may be used, with either a transparent or non-transparent bridging system, between multiple PCI segments, to increase the number of shared peripherals in a single Compact PCI chassis.

Abstract: In a Compact PCI system, a method and apparatus for bridging multiple PCI segments in a chassis utilizing backplane connections, instead of a front side component slot. Embodiments of the present invention may be used, with either a transparent or nontransparent bridging system, between multiple PCI segments, to increase the number of shared peripherals in a single Compact PCI chassis.

Abstract: A method of providing digital subscriber line (“DSL”) service and plain old telephone service (“POTS”) in a chassis. A communication I/O line is connected to the chassis. A first circuit board provides the DSL service. A second circuit board provides POTS.

Abstract: A method of improving network interface reliability uses a fail-over mechanism. When one network card becomes disabled, a second network card takes its place. A mid-plane separates the network card into a transition portion and a main portion. Cables are connected to the transition portion, and allows input and output from a particular network card to be re-routed to another network card without the need to physically alter the external cables.

Abstract: A method of compressing input characters, and decompressing compressed data to produce the original input characters is provided whereby an input substitution table and an output substitution table are formed by storing an identical set of arbitrary character tokens of a fixed length in each of the tables. Each table entry has a first and second token data field associated with it. The token data fields are representative of either a character token or substitution code token. Input characters are loaded into an input register and pairs of tokens in the input register are replaced with a substitution code token from the input substitution table. The tokens residing in the input resister are transmitted as output tokens to the decompression mechanism. The entries in the input substitution table are then updated by locating a substitution entry in the table which is not referenced by any other substitution table entry and by replacing this entry with the two most recently transmitted output tokens.