Extension of link aggregation protocols over the network
First Claim
1. A method for connecting link aggregation compatible devices over a communication network comprising:
- (a) receiving a request to establish a connection between said devices, said connection being defined by specific traffic parameters;
(b) detecting a plurality of maximally disjoint paths between said devices, said maximally disjoint paths being formed by compatible physical links; and
(c) establishing said connection over two or more logical links along a respective two or more maximum disjoint paths and aggregating said logical links into a virtual path having said specific traffic parameters.
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Abstract
An extension of a Link Aggregation Protocol (LAP) over the network allows current Ethernet point-to-point LAPs to operate across a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN). A maximum disjoint path algorithm allows selection of a plurality of alternative end-to-end physical routes between two data terminals. These physical routes share a minimum number of nodes and physical links. End-to-end logical links are then formed by a plurality of successive physical links between nodes containing protocol compatible devices, the physical links being selected based on their physical characteristics such as bandwidth and delay.
Multiple logical links can be provisioned, without dedicating, between any two data terminals over the network. The logical links provide the virtual point-to-point links that the edge LAP devices require. The extension of LAP/s over the network provides increased availability because a network failure can now be propagated to the edge of the network to allow the edge LAP devices to quickly react to the failure.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for connecting link aggregation compatible devices over a communication network comprising:
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(a) receiving a request to establish a connection between said devices, said connection being defined by specific traffic parameters;
(b) detecting a plurality of maximally disjoint paths between said devices, said maximally disjoint paths being formed by compatible physical links; and
(c) establishing said connection over two or more logical links along a respective two or more maximum disjoint paths and aggregating said logical links into a virtual path having said specific traffic parameters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A switching node of a communication network for routing traffic between near end and far end data terminals, comprising:
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a plurality of input ports and output ports, each port having specified traffic parameters;
a link aggregation interface for assigning an input port and a corresponding output port to a physical route between said near end and said far end data terminals under supervision of a node controller; and
a switch for routing traffic between said input port and said corresponding output port according to a connectivity map and establishing communication between said near end and said far end data terminals along a logical link. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for connecting link aggregation compatible devices over a communication network comprising:
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means for receiving a request to establish a connection between said devices, said connection being defined by specific traffic parameters;
means for detecting a plurality of maximally disjoint paths between said devices, said maximally disjoint paths being formed by compatible physical links; and
means for establishing said connection over two or more logical links along a respective two or more maximum disjoint paths and aggregating said logical links into a virtual path having said specific traffic parameters. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification