Protection switching systems and methods in a packet network based on signal degrade

• US 10,193,765 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2016
• Issued: 01/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Inventors: Holness, Marc, Mishra, Ashesh, Davison, Eric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Javaid, Jamal
• Application Number:
  US15/159,196
• Publication Number:
  US 20170339028A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3409 for performance assessment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/08 Monitoring or testing based on specific metrics, e.g. QoS, energy consumption or environmental parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/354 for supporting virtual local area networks [VLAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/555 Error detection

Abstract

A method of protection switching in a packet network based on signal/service degrade includes monitoring a packet network connection; detecting the packet network connection has a signal/service degrade including a condition where the packet network connection is operational, but experiencing errors below a threshold; and responsive to detection of the signal/service degrade one or more of notifying nodes in the packet network and performing a protection switch based on the signal/service degrade. The signal/service degrade is detected through one or more of i) determining a Frame Error Rate imputed from one or more of Bit Error Rate, frame events, and frame losses; ii) frame delay measurements; and iii) a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A method of protection switching in a packet network based on signal/service degrade, the method comprising:

monitoring a packet network connection;

detecting the packet network connection has a signal/service degrade comprising a condition where the packet network connection is operational, but experiencing errors determined on the packet network connection at a packet layer below a threshold, wherein the signal/service degrade is detected in part through a Frame Error Rate which is inferred from a Bit Error Rate and frame size; and

responsive to detection of the signal/service degrade, performing one or more of notifying nodes in the packet network and performing a protection switch at the packet layer based on the signal/service degrade.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal/service degrade is further detected in part through one or more performance metrics used in combination with the Frame Error Rate.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet network connection comprises one or more of a Label Switched Path (LSP), a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) member, a G.8032 ring span, a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), and a tunnel.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the protection switch is performed if a backup connection is active and has either a less severe signal/service degrade or no signal/service degrade thereon.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the notifying comprises one of providing a signal/service degrade indication in an Alarm Indication Signal (AIS), providing the signal/service degrade indication in a Ring-Automatic Protecting Switching (R-APS) message, providing the signal/service degrade indication via Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), and cessation of exchange of LACP.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet network connection comprises a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) member, wherein the protection switch comprises forcing a member with the signal/service degrade into a non-distributing/collecting state, and the notifying utilizes Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet network connection comprises a Label Switched Path (LSP), wherein the notifying comprises transmitting Alarm Indication Signal (AIS) over the LSP, and wherein the protection switch comprises a switch at a Label Edge Router to a backup connection.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet network connection comprises a G.8032 ring span, wherein the protection switch comprises blocking a port on the G.8032 ring span, and the notifying comprises transmitting a Ring-Automatic Protecting Switching (R-APS) message.

9. An apparatus for protection switching in a packet network based on signal/service degrade, the apparatus comprising:

circuitry adapted to monitor a packet network connection;

circuitry adapted to detect the packet network connection has a signal/service degrade comprising a condition where the packet network connection is operational, but experiencing errors determined on the packet network connection at a packet layer below a threshold, wherein the signal/service degrade is detected in part through a Frame Error Rate which is inferred from a Bit Error Rate and frame size; and

circuitry, responsive to detection of the signal/service degrade, adapted to one or more of notify nodes in the packet network with a notification and perform a protection switch at the packet layer based on the signal/service degrade.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the signal/service degrade is further detected in part through one or more performance metrics used in combination with the Frame Error Rate.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the packet network connection comprises one or more of a Label Switched Path (LSP), a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) member, a G.8032 ring span, a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), and a tunnel.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the protection switch is performed if a backup connection is active and has either a less severe signal/service degrade or no signal/service degrade thereon.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the notification comprises one of a signal/service degrade indication in an Alarm Indication Signal (AIS), the signal/service degrade indication in a Ring-Automatic Protecting Switching (R-APS) message, the signal/service degrade indication via Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP), and cessation of exchange of LACP.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the packet network connection comprises a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) member, wherein the protection switch comprises forcing a member with the signal/service degrade into a non-distributing/collecting state, and the notification utilizes Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP).

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the packet network connection comprises a Label Switched Path (LSP), wherein the notification comprises an Alarm Indication Signal (AIS) transmitted over the LSP, and wherein the protection switch comprises a switch at a Label Edge Router to a backup connection.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the packet network connection comprises a G.8032 ring span, wherein the protection switch comprises a blocked port on the G.8032 ring span, and the notification comprises a Ring-Automatic Protecting Switching (R-APS) message.

17. A node in a packet network adapted for protection switching based on signal/service degrade, the node comprising:

a plurality of ports communicatively coupled to the packet network;

a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality ports, wherein the controller is adapted to

monitor a packet network connection on one of the plurality of ports,

detect the packet network connection has a signal/service degrade comprising a condition where the packet network connection is operational, but experiencing errors determined on the packet network connection at a packet layer below a threshold, wherein the signal/service degrade is detected in part through a Frame Error Rate which is inferred from a Bit Error Rate and frame size, and

responsive to detection of the signal/service degrade, one or more of notify nodes in the packet network with a notification and perform a protection switch at the packet layer based on the signal/service degrade.

18. The node of claim 17, wherein the signal/service degrade is further detected in part through one or more performance metrics used in combination with the Frame Error Rate.

19. The node of claim 17, wherein the packet network connection comprises one or more of a Label Switched Path (LSP), a Link Aggregation Group (LAG) member, a G.8032 ring span, a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN), and a tunnel.

20. The node of claim 17, wherein the notification comprises one of a signal/service degrade indication in an Alarm Indication Signal (AIS), the signal/service degrade indication in a Ring-Automatic Protecting Switching (R-APS) message, and the signal/service degrade indication via Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP).