Shared Serial Bus Management for Telecom Shelf Diagnostics

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing electronic circuit cards in telecommunications equipment shelves require dedicated console ports on each card, increasing costs and diagnostic time due to the need for individual access during card failures, especially when the operating system is not operational.

Innovation Solution

A shared serial management interface is provided, allowing external access to multiple application cards through a shelf management card, which enables diagnostic and management connectivity without requiring the operating system to be operational, using a shared serial bus and multiplexer logic to connect external management ports to target ports within the shelf assembly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dedicated console port is provided on each application card, then diagnostic and management connectivity is available when the operating system is not operational, but the cost of electronic equipment assemblies increases and the time and equipment required to diagnose card failures increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic connectivity availabilityVSAvoidnumber of console ports

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple dedicated console ports into a single shared console port that is multiplexed across multiple application cards. The shelf management controller dynamically assigns the shared console port to different application cards as needed, eliminating the need for each card to have its own dedicated console port while maintaining diagnostic connectivity when the operating system is not operational.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared console port serves multiple functions by being multiplexed across different application cards. A single physical console port can connect to any application card in the shelf through the shelf management controller, making the console interface universal rather than card-specific. This multi-functional approach reduces the total number of console ports required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a dedicated console port is provided on each application card, then direct access to each card is available, but the cost per assembly increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to card diagnosticsVSAvoidnumber of console ports

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple dedicated console ports are merged into a single shared resource. The shelf management controller manages access to this shared console port, allowing operators to diagnose any application card through one physical console interface rather than requiring separate console ports on each card or multiple physical console interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shelf management controller acts as an intermediary between the external console and application cards. When diagnostic access is needed, the shelf management controller establishes a connection between the shared console port and the target application card, providing the same direct access experience as dedicated ports would without requiring physical dedicated connections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If each application card has its own console port, then independent diagnostic access is provided, but diagnostic time increases due to needing to access each card individually

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic capabilityVSAvoiddiagnostic time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The console port assignment is dynamic rather than static. The shelf management controller can dynamically assign the shared console port to different application cards based on diagnostic needs. This dynamic allocation allows rapid switching between cards during diagnostics, reducing the time required to access multiple cards compared to physically moving between dedicated console ports.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The universal shared console port provides diagnostic capability for all application cards through a single interface. Operators can access any card's diagnostics through the same console port without needing to physically reconnect or switch between multiple dedicated console ports, significantly reducing diagnostic time while maintaining full diagnostic capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7644215B2Methods and systems for providing management in a telecommunications equipment shelf assembly using a shared serial bus

Publication Date: 2010.01.05 TEKELEC GLOBAL INC

AI summary

A method for connecting an externally accessible shared serial port to one of a plurality of target serial ports is provided. The target serial ports are associated with a plurality of different application cards within a shelf assembly. The method includes receiving, from an external device connected to an externally accessible shared serial port, a request for a connection between the externally accessible shared serial port and one of a plurality of target serial ports within a shelf assembly associated with a plurality of different application cards, and determining whether shelf resources are available to connect the externally accessible shared serial port to the requested target serial port. In response to determining that shelf resources are available, the externally accessible shared serial port is connected to the requested target serial port.