Hybrid network element for a multi-protocol layered transmissions network and a graphical representation of the network
First Claim
1. A hybrid network element for use in a multi-protocol layered transmissions network, wherein each of the layers is associated with at least one communication protocol different from the communication protocols associated with the remaining layers, said hybrid network element is adapted to operate in any one of three or more layers of the layered network, and comprising processing means adapted to process incoming traffic, conveyed in accordance with a first communication protocol associated with a first of said layers, into outgoing traffic to be conveyed in accordance with a second communication protocol associated with at least one of the remaining two or more layers, thereby enabling traffic received at a port associated with said first layer to be forwarded to another one of said layers, being an adjacent or a non-adjacent layer to said first layer, through a port associated with said another layer after having the traffic processed into a traffic format that is in accordance with a communication protocol associated with said another layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
For use in a multi-protocol layered transmissions network including a plurality of network elements, a hybrid network element capable of operating at more than two layers, and a method for displaying a model of the multi-protocol layered transmissions network. The method comprises the steps of: determining different and preferably hierarchically related protocol layers in the multi-protocol layered transmissions network; and for each protocol layer, displaying an overlay including the hybrid network elements if operative in the protocol layer, displaying at least one physical link and/or a logical link interconnecting pairs network elements, wherein displaying a logical link so as to show that transport service along the logical link is at least partially provided by a transmission path on a protocol layer underlying the protocol layer. The method preferably comprises displaying a pair of association links between each logical link and its associated transmission path.
27 Citations
20 Claims
- 1. A hybrid network element for use in a multi-protocol layered transmissions network, wherein each of the layers is associated with at least one communication protocol different from the communication protocols associated with the remaining layers, said hybrid network element is adapted to operate in any one of three or more layers of the layered network, and comprising processing means adapted to process incoming traffic, conveyed in accordance with a first communication protocol associated with a first of said layers, into outgoing traffic to be conveyed in accordance with a second communication protocol associated with at least one of the remaining two or more layers, thereby enabling traffic received at a port associated with said first layer to be forwarded to another one of said layers, being an adjacent or a non-adjacent layer to said first layer, through a port associated with said another layer after having the traffic processed into a traffic format that is in accordance with a communication protocol associated with said another layer.
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6. For use with a network element operative in a multi-protocol layered transmissions network and wherein said network element is operative in any one of three or more layers of said network, a method for forwarding traffic received along one of said layers towards another layer, which method comprises the steps of:
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receiving incoming traffic conveyed along one of said layers, wherein said incoming traffic is conveyed in accordance with a first communication protocol associated with said one layer;
processing said received traffic into traffic adapted to be conveyed in accordance with a second communication protocol, wherein said second communication protocol is associated with at least one of the remaining two or more layers, forwarding said processed traffic towards another layer being an adjacent or a non-adjacent layer to said first layer, wherein said another layer is associated with said second communication protocol.
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7. A method for displaying traffic topology of a multi-protocol layered transmissions network, for use in a multi-protocol Network Management System application for managing said transmissions network including a plurality of network elements, the method comprising the steps of:
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iv. determining the layers in the multi-layered transmissions network, such that each of the layers is associated with at least one communication protocol different from the communication protocols associated with the remaining layers;
v. for each layer, displaying an overlay including the network elements or functional units thereof operative in the layer, and displaying at least one physical link and/or at least one logical link interconnecting pairs of network elements or functional units thereof, wherein said at least one logical link being displayed if transport service along a said logical link is at least partially provided by a transmission path on a layer underlying said layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification