摘要:
In a mesh network, a network element for providing protection switching in a 1:N shared mesh protection scheme having a first protection path associated with a pair of working paths selected from the N working paths is disclosed. The network element comprising: (a) a link for connecting the network element to a first working path of the pair of working paths in a path layer of the network, the path layer including a plurality of interconnected network elements; (b) a routing table accessible by the network element, the routing table for having local protection channel information associated with a local protection segment separate from the first protection path, the local protection segment connecting the network element and one of the interconnected network elements adjacent to the network element; and (c) an identification module for using the local protection channel information to identify an available protection channel on the local protection segment in the event of failure of a local working segment of the first working path, the local working segment connecting the network element and said one of the adjacent interconnected network elements; wherein the available local protection channel on the local protection segment is used to switch local network bandwidth from the failed local working segment to the local protection segment after the failure has been detected. Selection functions are also disclosed.
摘要:
A shared mesh protection scheme defines an associated protection path when a working connection is established. During the protection path definition, the corresponding protection path information is sent down to a switch card of network elements making up the protection path. Upon detection of the failure, the network elements using an overhead byte message will inform the routing source network element of the connection of the failure in the working path. The overhead bytes used are interrupt driven bytes located in the line and path overhead of network traffic. The routing source node of the connection will then send the corresponding overhead byte messages down the protection path to provide for protection path establishment according to the preloaded data located at the switch card. It should be noted that each connection can have a source and termination element which relates to the source from where the corresponding connection was set-up rather than the direction of the payload transmission. Therefore, once the failure has occurred the source elements will send messages using overhead bytes to the corresponding network elements along the protection path. Accordingly, routing tables located at the switch card of the network elements, set-up when the working path connections were initially established, determine this dynamically allocated protection path environment.
摘要:
A data communication apparatus having a plurality of working ports for exchanging data traffic with a network element and at least one protection port. The communication apparatus also has a protection switching functional element to switch data traffic from a failed working port to the at least one protection port. The protection switching functional element is capable to acquire either one of a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. The first mode of operation is an 1:Q mode using a single protection port where Q is the number of working ports and Q is equal or greater than 1. The second mode of operation is an M:N mode where M is the number of protection ports and N is the number of working ports, where M and N are greater than 1.
摘要:
A node within a mesh network includes an Optical Connection Controller (OCC) and a network element. When a connection path within the mesh network is required, an OCC determines if a particular connection path requires a network element to operate as a virtual gateway to separate the mesh network into separate protection domains for that particular connection path. A connection path might require separate protection domains in cases in which the number of network elements and/or repeater/amplifier components for a particular connection path is greater than a threshold, the total length of links for the connection path is above a threshold and/or another factor that could cause the recovery time for the connection path to increase beyond an acceptable threshold level. If the OCC determines that one or more virtual gateways are required for a particular connection path, the OCC selects an appropriate network element within the network to operate as a virtual gateway for that particular connection path. Finally, the OCC assigns network elements and links to establish working and protection paths between the source network element and the virtual gateway and between the virtual gateway and the destination network element. This set-up can ensure that each connection path will have a recovery time after a failure within an acceptable range.
摘要:
In a mesh network, a network element for providing protection switching in a 1:N shared mesh protection scheme having a first protection path associated with a pair of working paths selected from the N working paths is disclosed. The network element comprising: (a) a link for connecting the network element to a first working path of the pair of working paths in a path layer of the network, the path layer including a plurality of interconnected network elements; (b) a routing table accessible by the network element, the routing table for having local protection channel information associated with a local protection segment separate from the first protection path, the local protection segment connecting the network element and one of the interconnected network elements adjacent to the network element; and (c) an identification module for using the local protection channel information to identify an available protection channel on the local protection segment in the event of failure of a local working segment of the first working path, the local working segment connecting the network element and said one of the adjacent interconnected network elements; wherein the available local protection channel on the local protection segment is used to switch local network bandwidth from the failed local working segment to the local protection segment after the failure has been detected. Selection functions are also disclosed.
摘要:
Commands are shown and described that enable a user to manipulate a call connection for the purpose of maintaining links in a network. The Block command prevents new traffic from being added to an output port of a device in a connection. The Forced Restoration/Release of Forced Restoration command set may be used to service the working channel. The Lockout of Restoration/Release of Lockout commands provide an alternative method of servicing a working connection and preventing unnecessary generation of redundant connections in the network.