System and method for providing protection of data communications in packet-based networks

• US 20030179749A1
• Filed: 07/12/2002
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent Canada Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent Canada Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Mark, Barry Ding Ken, Zboril, Thomas George
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/390
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture

Abstract

A method and system for providing protection of data communications in packet-based networks is provided, using a combination of unicast to multicast conversion and providing formation of virtual output queues (VOQs) which are separate for each pair of the target port and protection ports on the target network device. As a result, the system requires less bandwidth resources and reduces or eliminates network performance problems associated with other existing solutions.

Claims

1. A system for 1+1 protection of data communications in a packet-based network, comprising:

means for converting a unicast data packet destined for a target port on a target network device into a multicast data packet, including means for forming a separate queue of the multicast data packets for each pair of ports on the target network device, the first port in the pair being the target port, and the second port in the pair being a protection port associated with the target port.

2. A system as described in claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting the multicast data packet to the target network device.

3. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the means for converting further comprises means for receiving a congestion signal from the target network device if one of the target and protection port is congested, and means for re-mapping port information in the congestion signal.

4. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the means for converting comprises a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA).

5. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the means for converting comprises a Network Processor.

6. A system as described in claim 1, wherein the means for converting comprises an ASIC.

7. A system as described in claim 2, further comprising the target network device for receiving the multicast data packet at the target and the protection port thereof.

8. A system as described in claim 7, wherein the target network device is a packet-switching device.

9. A system as described in claim 7, further comprising a source network device for generating the unicast data packet.

10. A method for providing 1+1 protection of data communications in a packet-based network, comprising the steps of:

converting a unicast data packet destined for a target port on a target network device into a multicast data packet; and

forming a queue of the multicast data packets for each pair of ports on the target network device, the first port in the pair being the target port, and the second port in the pair being a protection port associated with the target port.

11. A method as described in claim 10, further comprising the step of transmitting the multicast data packet to the target network device.

12. A method as described in claim 11, further comprising the step of receiving a congestion signal from the target network device if one of the target and protection port is congested, and the step of re-mapping port information in the congestion signal.

13. A system for N+1 protection of data communications in a packet-based network, comprising means for converting a unicast data packet destined for a target port on a target network device into a multicast data packet, including means for forming a queue of the multicast data packets for each set of ports on the target network device, the first port in the set being the target port, and other ports in the set being protection ports associated with the target port.

14. A system as described in claim 13, wherein the means for converting further comprises means for receiving a congestion signal from the target network device if one of the ports in the set of ports is congested, and means for re-mapping port information in the congestion signal.

15. A system as described in claim 13, wherein the number of associated protection ports for each target port is the same.

16. A system as described in claim 13, wherein the number of associated protection ports for each target port is variable between the target ports.

17. A method for providing N+1 protection of data communications in a packet-based network, comprising the steps of:

converting a unicast data packet destined for a target port on a target network device into a multicast data packet; and

forming a queue of the multicast data packets for each set of ports on the target network device, the first port in the set being the target port, and other ports in the set being protection ports associated with the target port.

18. A method as described in claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving a congestion signal from the target network device if one of the ports in the set of ports is congested, and the step of re-mapping port information in the congestion signal.

19. A system for 1:

1 protection of data communications in a packet-based network, comprising;

means for converting a unicast data packet destined for a target port on a target network device into a multicast data packet, including means for forming a queue of the multicast data packets for each pair of ports on the target network device, the first port in the pair being the target port, and second port in the pair being a protection port associated with the target port, the protection port being allowed additionally to carry other multicast traffic.

20. A system as described in claim 19, wherein the means for converting further comprises means for receiving a congestion signal from the target network device if one of the target and protection port is congested, and means for re-mapping port information in the congestion signal.

21. A system for 1:

N protection of data communications in a packet-based network, comprising;

means for converting a unicast data packet destined for a target port on a target network device into a multicast data packet, including means for forming a queue of the multicast data packets for each target port on the target network device;

means for designating at least one associated protection port for all of the target ports; and

means for sending multicast data packet to the associated protection port if failure occurs in the transmission to one of the target ports.

22. A system as described in claim 21, wherein the means for converting further comprises means for receiving a congestion signal from the target network device if one of the target and protection port is congested, and means for re-mapping port information in the congestion signal.