Abstract: A vehicle active network (12) communicatively couples devices (14–20) within a vehicle (10). Device operation is independent of the interface (22–28) of the device (14–20) with the active network (12). Additionally, the architecture of the active network (12) provides one or more levels of communication redundancy. The architecture provides for the total integration of vehicle systems and functions, and permits plug-and-play device integration and upgradeability.

Abstract: A cross-bar switch includes a set of input ports to accept data packets and a set of sink ports in communication with the input ports to forward the data packets. Each sink port includes a communications link interface with a Retry input. When a signal is asserted on the Retry input, the sink port aborts transmission of a data packet and waits a predetermined period of time to retransmit the data packet.

Abstract: A switch fabric for switching data traffic according to a plurality of links. The data traffic may convey audio information, video information, or any other type of information. The switch fabric includes input, output and at least one intermediate stages, each stage including a plurality of switching elements. The switching elements of the input and output stages respectively have external input and output ports. The switch fabric further includes a switch fabric controller. The switch fabric controller includes a link database including information about the plurality of links. The switch fabric controller is operative to search the link database to identify symmetrical links and to establish internal pathways between the input stage and the output stage through the at least one intermediate stage, wherein at least two symmetrical links identified by the searching are realized using a common switching element of the at least one intermediate stage.

Abstract: A network relaying apparatus and method for routing and transferring packets at high speed. A transfer engine stores the packets received through a network interface in a packet buffer, and stores the header information in a header RAM. A search engine searches the transfer control information including the transfer destination information and the action information in accordance with the header information, and writes it in the header RAM. The transfer engine produces an output packet based on the information stored in the packet buffer and the header RAM and outputs it to the transfer destination. A switch switches the output packet to the routing process of the destination. The transfer engine executes the receiving process and the transmission process, and the search engine executes the input search process and the output search process. Each of these processes is executed by pipelining control using a required table independently.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recovering abnormal control cells in an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) exchange subscriber unit. A signal cell or control cell is transmitted and a plurality of reception first-in first-out memories (FIFOs) are sequentially checked to determine whether a new cell has arrived. If there is no start of cell (SOC) signal in an initial byte of a current cell under the condition that a cell synchronization loss signal is present in the current cell, or if the SOC signal is detected during transfer of the current cell, the current cell is determined to be abnormal. If the cell synchronization loss signal is abnormal, the current cell is discarded and an associated FIFO is fully emptied to recover cell synchronization.

Abstract: Supportably mounted by each chassis of a multi-chassis broadcast router are primary router matrix cards, redundant router matrix cards and clock-demanding input and output cards. A first master clock resides on the primary router matrix card of a first chassis while a second master clock resides on the redundant router matrix card of a second chassis. Each master clock is configured to provide a respective common clock signal to all of the input and output cards of the first and second chassis. Control logic determines whether the first master clock or the second master clock issues the common clock signal.

Abstract: A data switching system comprising one or more I/O elements each comprising a plurality of first input/output ports adapted to receive and transmit data packets or cells to and from an external data network, and one or more second input/output ports adapted to receive and transmit data packets or cells, means for providing first routing information relating to at least one packet or cell to be output from one or more of the second port(s), each I/O element being adapted to transfer data packets or cells between the first ports and the second port(s) and to output data packets or cells comprising corresponding first routing information from the second port(s), a switching element having a plurality of third input/output ports being adapted to receive and transmit data packets or cells, the switching element comprising means for receiving on a third port a data packet or cell as well as the corresponding first routing information, determining, on the basis of the first routing information, port information indi

Abstract: A network device that controls the communication of data frames between stations includes ports that receive data frames from the stations and transmit the data frames. A number of the ports may be configured as a trunk and at least one of the ports in the trunk may be configured to transmit data frames at a higher speed than the other ports. The network device further includes data frame processing logic that identifies ports on which to transmit the received data frames. The data frame processing logic also determines whether the identified port is part of the trunk. When the port is part of the trunk, the data frame processing logic determines an appropriate port on which to transmit the data frame. The data frame processing logic may determine the appropriate port based on the priority associated with the received data frame so that higher priority data frames are transmitted on higher speed ports.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system and a method for filtering a plurality of frames sent between devices coupled to a fabric by Fiber Channel connections. Frames are reviewed against a set of individual frame filters. Each frame filter is associated with an action, and actions selected by filter matches are prioritized. Groups of devices are “zoned” together and frame filtering ensures that restrictions placed upon communications between devices within the same zone are enforced. Zone group filtering is also used to prevent devices not within the same zone from communicating. Zoning may also be used to create LUN-level zones, protocol zones, and access control zones. In addition, individual frame filters may be created that reference selected portions of frame header or frame payload fields.

Abstract: A multi-stage switching network that can hitlessly reconfigure itself comprising a controller that controls each stage separately. The controller designates the paths through each stage according to the set of paths currently active. If the set of paths changes, the controller sends a new set of paths to the first stage while using the old set of paths for the second stage during a first frame. On the next frame, the controller causes both stages to use the new set of paths.

Abstract: A method of handling data packets in a series of network switches includes receiving an incoming data packet at a data port of a first switch of the series of network switches. A module id bitmap of the incoming data packet is resolved and a bit corresponding to the first switch of the module id bitmap is examined to determine if the bit is set. A destination address of the incoming data packet is resolved when the corresponding bit is set and the incoming data packet is forwarded or dropped based on the destination address. When the corresponding bit is not set, the incoming data packet is forwarded to a next switch of the series of network switches. A network switch configured to allow for cascading of data packets is also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for inventorying a broadband access network multiplexing element switch fabric are disclosed. The methods include establishing communication with an element manager from a remote location, gathering status information for the multiplexing element by issuing a first interface retrieve command to the element manager from the remote location, and gathering status information for the switch fabric by issuing a second interface retrieve command to the multiplexing element from the remote location.

Abstract: Placing virtualization agents in the switches which comprise the SAN fabric. Higher level virtualization management functions are provided in an external management server. Conventional HBAs can be utilized in the hosts and storage units. In a first embodiment, a series of HBAs are provided in the switch unit. The HBAs connect to bridge chips and memory controllers to place the frame information in dedicated memory. Routine translation of known destinations is done by the HBA, based on a virtualization table provided by a virtualization CPU. If a frame is not in the table, it is provided to the dedicated RAM. Analysis and manipulation of the frame headers is then done by the CPU, with a new entry being made in the HBA table and the modified frames then redirected by the HBA into the fabric. This can be done in either a standalone switch environment or in combination with other switching components located in a director level switch.

Abstract: Broadband multimedia system including a communication bus, a router, connected to the communication bus and further between a plurality of media sources and a plurality of network transmitters, a session manager, connected to communication bus, where the session manager provides routing instructions to the router, for directing data received from the media sources to the network transmitters for transmitting over a broadband network.

Abstract: A packet switching system capable of ensuring the sequence and continuity of packets and further compensating for delays in transmission is disclosed. Each of two redundant switch sections has a high-priority queue and a low-priority queue for each of output ports. A high-priority output selector selects one of two high-priority queues corresponding to respective ones of the two switch sections to store an output of the selected one into a high-priority output queue. A low-priority output selector selects one of two low-priority queues corresponding to respective ones of the two switch sections to store an output of the selected one into a low-priority output queue. The high-priority and low-priority output selectors are controlled depending on a system switching signal and a packet storing status of each of the high-priority and low-priority queues.

Abstract: Broadband multimedia system including a communication bus, a router, connected to the communication bus and further between a plurality of media sources and a plurality of network transmitters, a session manager, connected to communication bus, where the session manager provides routing instructions to the router, for directing data received from the media sources to the network transmitters for transmitting over a broadband network.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a CPU and a memory connected to an internal local bus, and includes a data transmission/reception unit transmitting and receiving data to and from a public network, a voice encoding/decoding unit encoding and decoding voice data, an image encoding/decoding unit encoding and decoding image data, an external input/output interface controller controlling an input/output interface with an external unit, and an input/output switching unit selectively forming a data bus among the data transmission/reception unit, the voice encoding/decoding unit, the image encoding/decoding unit and the external input/output interface controller.

Abstract: An ATM switching system includes PVC allocation circuits 13-i corresponding to output queues 14-i is disclosed. At the time of arrival of the leading cell of each burst data, if the output line has a room, the PVC of the burst data is stored as information for admission and identification. The subsequently-arriving cells having the same PVC identification information as the stored identification information are “input to an output buffer, and the cells of the remaining burst data are all discarded. Even when a plurality of burst data compete for the same output line, the fact that all the cells other than the first-arriving admitted burst data are discarded prevents the cells from being input other than within a predetermined bandwidth and localizes the burst data affected by the cell discarding due to output queue overflow.

Abstract: A network switch having a hybrid switch architecture, which is scalable to increase connectivity, buffering, and bandwidth by using multiple shared-memory switch fabrics and multiple crossbar switch fabrics. Each of the crossbar switch fabrics is coupled to each of the shared-memory switch fabrics. The shared-memory switch fabrics are configured to store and retrieve packets. The crossbar switch fabrics are configured to distribute and re-collect packets to and from each of the shared-memory switch fabrics. The network switch having a hybrid switch architecture distributes packets from a crossbar switch fabric to the multiple shared-memory switch fabrics to share the distributed packets among the multiple shared-memory switch fabrics.

Abstract: A method and system for managing an interconnect fabric that connects nodes. A network manager manages an interconnect fabric or network of routing devices (e.g., interconnect fabric modules, switches, or routers) to allow source nodes to transmit data to destination nodes. The network manager receives registration requests from source nodes to send data to destination nodes, configures the routing devices of the network to establish a path from each source node to its destination node, and provides a virtual address to each source node. The virtual address identifies a path from the source node to the destination node. The source node sends the data to its destination node by providing the data along with the virtual address to a routing device of the network.

Abstract: This invention provides a new architecture for a communication system between head-ends and end-users which expands bandwidth and reliability of the communication system. A mux-node receives communication signals from a head-end and forwards the received communication signals to one or more mini-fiber nodes. The connection to the head-end is via a small number of optical fibers and the connections to each of the mini-fiber nodes may be via one or more optical fibers that may provide full duplex communication. The head-end may communicate with the mux-node using digital or digital and analog signals. The mini-fiber nodes may combine the signals received from the head-end with loop-back signals used for local media access control prior to forwarding the signals to the end-users. Upstream data are received by the mini-fiber nodes and transmitted to the mux-node.

Abstract: A Unified XML integrated voice and data application delivery system includes a switch coupled to a first network and at least a second network, wherein the first network includes distinct voice and data applications and the second network includes one or more user devices, such as a cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc. The switch transfers voice and data between the applications and the user devices. A controller coupled to the switch includes a finite state machine controlling the interaction between the voice and data applications and the user devices. The finite state machine controls the transfer of voice and data between the applications and the user devices by the switch to enable a user to interact with the integrated instance of the voice and data applications simultaneously via the user devices.

Abstract: A connection apparatus for a public network switching system includes line ports connected to user terminals and trunk ports connected to Internet lines, a switching unit having diverging ports connected to the trunk ports and converging ports connected to the line ports. A control unit receives a request signal from a user terminal and establishes connections between one of the diverging ports and the converging ports which correspond to Internet lines specified by the request signal. The public network switching system connects the one diverging port to the user terminal and connects a line port and a trunk port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to switching in electronic networks. Many data transmission protocols and technologies used in such networks, such as TCP/IP and Ethernet, use variable-length packets for transmission. Often however, the nodes that make up these networks typically contain high-speed cell switches that only support fixed-size data units. To support variable-length packets in such a fixed-size cell switch non-interleaving switching and transmission must be offered. The present invention provides such a solution in essence by segmenting a variable-length frame into a plurality of fixed-length cells including a start-of-frame cell, one or more continuation cell(s), and an end-of-frame cell and routes said fixed-length cells through said switch, thereby providing, at an output of said switch, subsequent and deadlock-free transmission of consecutive cells of a certain frame, and block any cell of a different frame from interleaving.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a switching method and apparatus for performing a switching operation in a telecommunication network, wherein a side information and a service information generated based on a received call is converted into a switching technology independent identification information for identifying a start point and an end point of a connection to be switched in said switching apparatus. Thus, the physical resources of the switch are abstracted to a logical model which provides a clear interface for call control and signaling applications. Logical resources are controlled by resource managers, such that the physical resources are hidden by the switching technology independent identification information of the start point and end point of the connection. Thereby, problems with different switching technologies can be solved, and the complexity and maintenance of call control applications can be reduced, since they handle logical resources independent of the switching techniques.

Abstract: A scheduling system and methodology for use in a network switch element having multiserver, multiple-arbiter architecture. Ingress ports and egress ports coupled to the cross-connect fabric of the network element are provided with multiple ingress and egress arbiters, respectively, for effectuating an iterative arbitration strategy such as RGA or RG. Arbiter architectures include singe-arbiter-per-port; single-arbiter-per-server; multiple-arbiters-per-port; and multiple-arbiters-per-server arrangements, wherein the arbiters can be implemented using RRA, BTA, Flexible Ring, or any other arbiter technology. Depending on the iteration strategy, ingress arbiter architecture and egress arbiter architecture, a variety of iterative, multiserver-capable scheduling algorithms can be obtained, which scheduling algorithms can also be implemented in QoS-aware network nodes.

Abstract: A method reliably communicates content for multiple subscriber lines via a single physical transmission medium between a telecommunication gateway and equipment at a customer location. In that method, content for two or more subscriber lines of the customer location is received and converted into packetized data for network communications and/or multiplexed to form an added-main-line (AML) signal that includes power. The packetized data or the AML signal is communicated between the customer location and the telecommunication gateway via the single physical transmission medium. External power can be used to extract the content for the two or more subscriber lines from the packetized data in a primary mode of operation, and the power from the AML signal can be used to extract the content for the two or more subscriber lines from the AML signal in a backup mode of operation.

Abstract: The Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) chooses a root switch. Each of the other switches has a “root” port and one or more “designated ports(s)” chosen by STP. Packets are transmitted upstream toward the root switch through the root port, and packets designated for downstream switches from the root switch are received by the root port and transmitted through the designated ports. In the invention, an administrator of the core network identifies which switch ports in the core network are boundary ports to customer networks. The administrator designates the boundary ports as “root guard protected” ports (RG ports). The STP then executes as required by the ordinary STP protocol, and if a RG port is selected by the STP to be a root portm then the status of the port is set to “blocked,” and no packets are transmitted through the port.

Abstract: A method and a system for providing signaling in cellular telephone system providing broadcast services to fully integrate broadcast services with the services provided by the cellular telephone systems. The signaling method coordinate interaction between an access network and the subscriber station to allowing the subscriber station to decode the broadcast service, to receive paging messages while receiving the broadcast service, to properly transition between operation states, and other functions known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Abstract: A method and system for routing in an ATM network, which has a plurality of nodes connected to each other via links and a network management centre connected to the ATM network. The optimisation information is defined in a centralized manner in the network management centre and the nodes apply the results of this centralized optimisation according to their own condition. The optimisation information is defined so that sum of rejected capacity for each connection between an origin node and a terminal node does not exceed a predetermined limit. The invention provides the advantage that the operation of individual nodes in setting up connections is very fast. Moreover, a fair distribution of network resources among users is achieved.

Abstract: A reliable Medium Access Control layer protocol and method employing centralized management of communication in a Time Division Multiple Access network architecture. The Medium Access Control layer protocol implements Quality of Service guaranties to the layers of the Open Systems Interconnection reference model above the Medium Access Control layer by providing guaranteed bandwidth links within the bandwidth range specified by those layers. The Medium Access Control layer protocol further provides variable data slot requisition, variable data slot allocation, dynamic data slot reallocation, and data slot deallocation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for digital subscriber line (xDSL) communications between one or more digital signal processors (DSPs) and analog front ends (AFEs) each coupled to corresponding subscriber line(s). The apparatus transports channels of data between subscribers and the DSP(s). The apparatus includes a bus for the transport of digital data, a DSP AFE interfaces. The DSP interfaces couples the DSP to the bus. The DSP interface accepts downstream channels of digital data from the DSP and transmits packets each associated with a corresponding one of the downstream channels to the bus. Each of the packets identifies a targeted AFEs coupled to a selected one of the subscriber lines. The AFE interfaces each couple an associated one of the AFEs to the bus. Each of the AFE interfaces transmits selected packets to a selected one of the subscriber lines for the transport to the subscriber.

Abstract: The implementation of transactions on an integrated circuit comprising a plurality of functional modules connected to a packet router is described. Each functional module generates request packets for implementing memory access operations, each request packet having an operation field comprising eight bits of which a packet type bit denotes the type of the packet, four operation family bit denote the function to be implemented by the packet and three operation qualifier bits act to qualify the function.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer program device enabling a computer network switching device to inform an attached requesting device of switch ports affected by configuration changes during the period of time since the last query by the particular requesting device. The switch device is initialized with a change index and data vector, the latter indicative of an initial port configuration. The switch increments the index in response to subsequent port configuration change events, and stores in association with the incremented index a data vector indicating the ports changed during the corresponding event. The switch stores an array of associated index and vector values. The switch responds to a query from an attached requesting device by informing the requesting device of specific ports affected by one or more configuration changes since the index value held by the requesting device was the current index value in the switch.

Abstract: A subscriber network system is provided with is capable of reducing the response time and reducing the device cost. In the subscriber network system, a control cell is generated which includes modified information when modification is caused for the filter table 230 of the cell filter 24-1 to 24-n in the ATM concentrator 200. The cell filters 24-1 to 24-n of the ATM concentrator 200 distribute the cells input through the cell inserting and dividing portion 210 to the subscribers. The control cell terminating portion 220 terminates the control cell supplied from the ATM exchange 100. The filter table 230 stores the setting information for the cell filters 24-1 to 24-n in the control cell terminated at the control cell terminated at the control cell terminating portion 220.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a method capable of processing low-speed circuit data lower than 64 kbps and high-speed packet data higher than 64 kbps in which a high-speed data network is constructed by converting an LCIN (local CDMA (code division multiple access) interconnection network) for supplying a communication path of packet data among sub-systems in a BSC (base station controller) of CDMA system to an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) for processing high-speed data, installing a TSB (transcoder selector bank) or an SDU (selector distribution unit) for processing high-speed packet data higher than 64 kbps in the BSC, and linking an ATM switch to an MSC (mobile switching center) to provide a high-speed data service with respect to other network.

Abstract: An information distribution apparatus for a CATV system which apparatus is capable of transmitting an identical program directed to a plurality of set-top boxes with the use of a single communication path between a distribution control section and an information distributing section. When distribution of identical information is requested from a plurality of set-top boxes, path identification number decision unit determines an identification number of a single communication path for these set-top boxes. Distribution information transmitting unit transmits the requested distribution information to the information distributing section via the communication path with the thus-determined identification number. In the information distributing section, set-top box identifying unit identifies individual set-top boxes to which the distribution information is to be distributed, based on the identification number of the communication path used for transmission by the distribution information transmitting unit.

Abstract: A bus interface for exchanging packets within a communication system between a single data link layer and a physical layer device which includes a link transmit interface on the link layer device, a PHY transmit interface on the physical layer devices electrically coupled to the link transmit interface, a link receive interface on the link layer device and a PHY receive interface on said physical layer device electrically coupled to the link receive interface, wherein data is transmitted from the link transmit interface to the PHY transmit interface and from the PHY receive interface to the link receive interface in packets of variable length in a word based format wherein each word has at least 1 byte.

Abstract: A procedure is described for determining which source to connect to which destination in a non-blocking crossbar switch through which a plurality of sources may be attempting to gain access to a plurality of destinations. To this end, a metric is dynamically associated with each source and with each destination. Matching of sources to destinations is accomplished by iteratively assigning the destination having the smallest metric of all currently unmatched destinations to the source having the smallest metric of all currently unmatched source.

Abstract: An arrangement for secure repeater communication in an IEEE 802.3 network by transmitting transmit data and a transmit enable signal on a selected repeater port based on an address lookup table in the repeater core. The other repeater ports that do not have a network address corresponding to the destination address of data packet receive corrupted data generated in response to signals from the respective repeater ports. The repeater ports cause generation of corrupted data by concurrently outputting an asserted transmit error signal and an unasserted transmit enable signal on the corresponding media independent interface. A physical layer transceiver, upon detecting the concurrent assertion of the transmit error signal and the deassertion of the transmit enable signal on the media independent interface, selectively outputs a prescribed data pattern as the transmit data to the network node.

Abstract: A method and system is adapted to provide for a low-cost and highly flexible system that can control and change configurations on one or more segments of a Compact Peripheral Component Interconnect Packet Switching Backplane (CPCI/PSB or CPCI and CPSB) during the backplane's lifetime that overcomes the limitations of the prior art. In one embodiment of the present invention, the segments are configurable to either a CPCI and CPSB configuration or a CPSB only configuration by controlling a CPCI indication signal, such as a PCI_PRESENT# signal. The PCI_PRESENT# signal of the present invention is to be controlled by a Chassis Management Controller (CMC) and the CMC software is used to configure each of the segments by driving zero or one on the segments (instead of hardwiring these segments to ground or open during the manufacturing of the backplane).

Abstract: A multimedia apparatus is described comprising: a tuner for tuning to a carrier frequency and down-converting a frequency-modulated multimedia signal to a baseband multimedia signal; a selectable protocol module including QAM/MPEG logic and Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (“DOCSIS”) logic configured to receive the baseband multimedia signal; and selection logic configured to select the QAM/MPEG logic for processing a first signal having a first signal format to produce a first processed signal, the selection logic further configured to select the DOCSIS logic for processing a second signal having a second signal format to produce a second processed signal.

Abstract: A network control apparatus for controlling devices in a predetermined area of a communication network includes a request-receiving unit for receiving a first route-setting request, a database for storing device information and topology information, a request-range-judging unit for forming a judgment as to whether or not the first route-setting request is relevant to any of the controlled devices, and a request-transmitting unit for transmitting the first route-setting request to an upper-level network control apparatus in the case of the request-range-judging unit's judgment outcome indicating that the first route-setting request is irrelevant to any of the controlled devices.

Abstract: A passive optical network employing wavelength dependent routing uses two-phase signalling between a network controller and terminals. In a first phase, terminals are informed of the wavelength channel allocated to them for a second signalling phase, groups of terminals being allocated to each channel. In the second signalling phase, control signals indicate to the terminal the wavelength and time slots allocated to the terminal in the following data transmission phase.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for performing a lookup in a switching device of a packet switched network where the lookup includes a plurality of distinct operations each of which returns a result that includes a pointer to a next operation in a sequence of operations for the lookup. The method includes determining a first lookup operation to be executed, executing the first lookup operation including returning a result and determining if the result includes a pointer to another lookup operation in the sequence of operations. If the result includes a pointer to another lookup operation, the lookup operation indicated by the result is executed. Else, the lookup is terminated.

Abstract: A method for realizing multipoint connections in a H.323 data communication network composed of a connection between first terminal equipment and second terminal equipment and of a consultation connection between the first terminal equipment and third terminal equipment. The multipoint connection setup is respectively initiated by the first terminal equipment with a connection setup to a conference unit. After the setup of signaling connections between the participating terminal equipment and the conference unit, and after releasing the connections between the terminal equipment, the conference unit initiates the opening of payload data channels between the terminal equipment via the conference unit. The setup of signaling connections between the participating terminal equipment and the conference unit is controlled in a call redirection initiated by the first terminal equipment and implemented in the other terminal equipment having the call redirection destination of conference unit.

Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for a scalable high capacity switch architecture involves a switching controller for use with a plurality of switching controllers in a switching system. Each switching controller has provisions for receiving a data packet, provisions for determining a destination of the data packet, provisions for determining whether any other switching controller in the system intends to transmit to the determined destination of the data packet and provisions for transmitting the received data packet to the determined destination when no other switching controllers intend to transmit to the determined destination.

Abstract: An integrated multiport switch operating in a packet switched network utilizes an internal rules checker (IRC) to process data frames. The IRC employs a modular, pipelined architecture that enables data frames to be processed simultaneously, thereby increasing data throughput.

Abstract: A system of switch modules comprises input demultiplexers connected to ports on each of the modules and output multiplexers connected to each of the modules. Each module has output and input interfaces for mesh links and at least one output interface is looped back to an input interface on the same module. The arrangement reduces module-to-module traffic and corresponding increases the transmit bandwidth of a module.

Abstract: The system provides an IP network card that comprises a redundancy configuration register; an interface; and redundancy mapping logic. The redundancy configuration register stores card configuration data. The interface receives slot active signals from other cards. The redundancy mapping logic is communicatively coupled to the register and interface. The logic maps a packet to a slot having an active card based on the data in the register, an address in the packet, and received slot active signals.