Distributed switching architecture for communication module redundancy

摘要

Partner modules are assigned to a plurality of primary modules in a communications system, each partner module being adapted to route signals from the primary module to which it is assigned to a spare module in case the primary module fails. The partner modules preferrably also serve as primary modules for receiving signals from their associated communication lines. As a result, redundancy for a failed primary module is provided by a signal routing architecture that is distributed throughout the communications system.