Embedded controller and node management architecture for a modular optical network, and methods and apparatus therefor

• US 20030023709A1
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lambda Optical Systems Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lambda Optical Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Garrick, Richard J., Liu, Gyi-Hong, Shung, Wu-Shi, Alvarez, Mario F., Battou, Abdella
• Application Number:
  US09/795,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20030023709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0227 Operation, administration, maintenance or provisioning [OAMP] of WDM networks, e.g. media access, routing or wavelength allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0238 Wavelength allocation for communications one-to-many, e.g. multicasting wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0241 Wavelength allocation for communications one-to-one, e.g. unicasting wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0284 WDM mesh architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0286 WDM hierarchical architectures
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/029 Dedicated protection at the optical multiplex section (1+1)
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0291 Shared protection at the optical multiplex section (1:1, n:m)
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0294 Dedicated protection at the optical channel (1+1)
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0295 Shared protection at the optical channel (1:1, n:m)
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 14/0297 Optical equipment protection
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/044 comprising hierarchical management structures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/046 comprising network management agents or mobile agents therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0631 using root cause analysis; using analysis of correlation between notifications, alarms or events based on decision criteria, e.g. hierarchy, tree or time analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0659 by isolating or reconfiguring faulty entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0681 Configuration of triggering conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 : comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/022 : by sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 : by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 : by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0847 : Transmission error
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 : Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 : using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 : Threshold monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 : in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 : Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 : Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0062 : Network aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0066 : Provisions for optical burst or packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0071 : Provisions for the electrical-optical layer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0015 : using splitting combining
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0016 : using wavelength multiplexing or demultiplexing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0024 : using space switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/003 : using switches based on microelectro-mechanical systems [MEMS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0039 : Electrical control
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0081 : Fault tolerance; Redundancy; Recovery; Reconfigurability
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0083 : Testing; Monitoring

Abstract

A Line Card Manager (LCM) and Node Manager architecture for use at an optical switch in an optical communications network. LCMs are provided for managing different line cards at the switch, and a Node Manager at the switch manages the LCMs. The Node Manager and LCMs exchange messages using a message-passing interface. The messages may include, e.g., read messages that enable the node manager to retrieve monitored parameter values that the LCM receives from its line card, write messages that enable the node manager to write provisioning data to the LCM, alarm messages that allow the LCMs to report alarm conditions to the node manager, an audit message that enables the node manager to verify a presence of the line card at the optical switch, and discovery messages that allow a LCM to announce its presence to the node manager, e.g., after rebooting.

Claims

1. A management architecture for use at an optical switch in an optical network, comprising:

a line card manager at the optical switch for managing an associated line card at the optical switch;

wherein said line card manager comprises a message-passing interface for communicating with a node manager at the optical switch that manages the line card manager.

2. The architecture of claim 1, wherein:

the line card manager receives a read message from the node manager via the message-passing interface; and

the read message allows the node manager to retrieve monitored parameter values that the line card manager receives from the line card.

3. The architecture of claim 1, wherein:

the line card manager receives a write message from the node manager via the message-passing interface; and

the write message allows the node manager to write provisioning data to the line card manager.

4. The architecture of claim 1, wherein:

the message-passing interface uses an alarm message to allow the line card manager to report an alarm condition to the node manager.

5. The architecture of claim 1, wherein:

the line card manager receives an audit message from the node manager via the message-passing interface; and

the audit message allows the node manager to verify a presence of the line card at the optical switch.

6. The architecture of claim 1, wherein:

the message-passing interface uses a discovery message to allow the line card manager to announce its presence to the node manager.

7. The architecture of claim 6, wherein:

the discovery message designates a type of the line card.

8. The architecture of claim 7, wherein:

the type comprises one of a transport ingress line card, transport egress line card, optical access ingress line card, optical access egress line card, access line interface card, switching fabric line card, optical performance monitoring line card, and optical signaling line card.

9. The architecture of claim 6, wherein:

the presence of the line card manager is announced to the node manager using the discovery message following a rebooting of the line card manager.

10. The architecture of claim 6, wherein;

the discovery message allows the line card manager to announce its presence to the node manager when the line card manager and the line card are installed at the optical switch.

11. The architecture of claim 1, wherein:

the message-passing interface uses a predetermined set of messages.

12. The architecture of claim 1, wherein:

the message-passing interface allows the line card manager to report an event regarding the line card to the node manager.

13. The architecture of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one additional line card manager at the optical switch for managing an associated respective line card at the optical switch;

wherein;

said additional line card manager comprises a respective message passing interface for communicating with the node manager; and

the respective line card managers use a common set of messages for communicating with the node manager via their message-passing interfaces.

14. A management architecture for use at an optical switch in an optical communication network, comprising:

a node manager at the optical switch for managing a plurality of respective line card managers at the optical switch, wherein each respective line card manager manages an associated respective line card at the optical switch;

wherein said node manager comprises a message-passing interface for communicating with the line card managers.

15. The architecture of claim 14, wherein:

the message-passing interface uses a read message to allow the node manager to retrieve monitored parameter values from at least one of the line card managers;

wherein the at least one line card manager receives the monitored parameter values from the respective line card.

16. The architecture of claim 14, wherein:

the message-passing interface uses a write message to allow the node manager to write provisioning data to at least one of the line card managers.

17. The architecture of claim 14, wherein:

the node manager receives an alarm message from at least one of the line card managers via the message-passing interface; and

the alarm message allows the at least one line card manager to report an alarm condition to the node manager.

18. The architecture of claim 14, wherein:

the message-passing interface uses an audit message to allow the node manager to verify a presence of at least one of the line cards at the optical switch.

19. The architecture of claim 14, wherein:

the node manager receives a discovery message from at least one of the line card managers via the message-passing interface; and

the discovery message allows the at least one line card manager to announce its presence to the node manager.

20. The architecture of claim 19, wherein:

the discovery message designates a type of the associated line card of the at least one line card manager.

21. The architecture of claim 20, wherein:

the type comprises one of a transport ingress line card, transport egress line card, optical access ingress line card, optical access egress line card, access line interface card, switching fabric line card, optical performance monitoring line card, and optical signaling line card.

22. The architecture of claim 19, wherein:

the presence of the line card manager is announced to the node manager following a rebooting of the line card manager.

23. The architecture of claim 14, wherein:

the message-passing interface uses a predetermined set of messages.

24. The architecture of claim 14, wherein:

the node manager is informed of events via the message-passing interface that are set by at least one of the line card managers regarding the associated line card.

25. An interface for use at an optical switch in an optical network, wherein the optical switch comprises a node manager for managing a plurality of respective line card managers at the optical switch, and each respective line card manager manages an associated respective line card at the optical switch, said interface comprising:

a message-passing interface for enabling the node manager to exchange messages with each of the line card managers;

wherein;

the messages include;

(a) line card manager-to-node manager messages for enabling the line card managers to report events regarding the respective line cards to the node manager, and (b) node manager-to-line card manager messages for enabling the node manager to provide commands to the line card managers.

26. The interface of claim 25, wherein:

the node manager-to-line card manager messages include a read message that allows the node manager to retrieve monitored parameter values that at least one of the line card managers receives from the respective line card.

27. The interface of claim 25, wherein:

the node manager-to-line card manager messages include a write message that allows the node manager to write provisioning data to at least one of the line card managers.

28. The interface of claim 25, wherein:

the line card manager-to-node manager messages include an alarm message that allows at least one of the line card managers to report an alarm condition to the node manager.

29. The interface of claim 25, wherein:

the node manager-to-line card manager messages include an audit message that allows the node manager to verify a presence of at least one of the line cards at the optical switch.

30. The interface of claim 25, wherein:

the line card manager-to-node manager messages include a discovery message that allows at least one of the line card managers to announce its presence to the node manager.

31. The interface of claim 30, wherein:

the discovery message designates a type of the respective line card of the at least one line card manager.

32. The interface of claim 31, wherein:

the type comprises one of a transport ingress line card, transport egress line card, optical access ingress line card, optical access egress line card, access line interface card, switching fabric line card, optical performance monitoring line card, and optical signaling line card.

33. The interface of claim 30, wherein:

the presence of the at least one line card manager is announced to the node manager using the discovery message following a rebooting of the at least one line card manager.

34. The interface of claim 25, wherein:

the message-passing interface uses a predetermined set of messages.

35. The interface of claim 25, wherein:

the line card manager-to-node manager messages include a message that allows at least one of the line card managers to report an event regarding the respective line card to the node manager.

36. A method for managing an optical switch in an optical network, comprising:

managing, at a line card manager at the optical switch, an associated line card at the optical switch; and

using a message-passing interface to enable the line card manager to communicate with a node manager at the optical switch that manages the line card manager.

37. A method for managing an optical switch in an optical communication network, comprising:

managing, at a node manager at the optical switch, a plurality of line card managers at the optical switch, wherein each line card manager manages an associated respective line card at the optical switch; and

using a message-passing interface to enable the node manager to communicate with the line card managers.

38. A method for interfacing a node manager at an optical switch in an optical network with a plurality of respective line card managers at the optical switch, wherein the node manager manages the line card managers, and each respective line card manager manages an associated respective line card at the optical switch, comprising:

enabling the node manager to exchange messages with each of the line card managers using a message-passing interface;

wherein;

the messages include;

(a) line card manager-to-node manager messages for enabling the line card managers to report events regarding the respective line cards to the node manager, and (b) node manager-to-line card manager messages for enabling the node manager to provide commands to the line card managers.