Path setup unit, path setup system and path setup method therefor

• US 20060072471A1
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shiozawa, Kenichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,616,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/248
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing

Abstract

A path setup unit, path setup system and path setup method comprises; a plurality of NEs (Network Elements) which constitute a network and to which path setup is possible; a path setup unit which inputs, into the NEs, control information for performing any one of path setup, deletion and alteration at a scheduled date and time; and a control unit, of each of the NEs, which performs path setup at the scheduled date and time based on the control information.

Claims

1. A path setup system capable of performing path setup comprising:

a plurality of NEs (Network Elements) which constitute a network and to which path setup is possible;

a path setup unit which inputs, into the NEs, control information for performing any one of path setup, deletion and alteration at a scheduled date and time; and

a control unit, of each of the NEs, which performs path setup at the scheduled date and time based on the control information.

2. An NE to which path setup is possible, comprising:

a first check unit which, when a control instruction for path setup at a scheduled date and time is inputted, checks if the control instruction is applicable to the NE;

a second check unit which checks if resources of the NE corresponding to the control instruction are available at the scheduled date and time; and

a control unit which executes the control instruction in such a manner that the control instruction can be completed at the scheduled date and time.

4. The NE according to claim 2, wherein, when a failure is detected and when a configuration/components change of the NE is made:

the first check unit further checks if the resources of the NE are applicable to path setup at a scheduled date and time, the path setup corresponding to the control instruction; and

the second check unit further checks if the resources of the NE are applicable, whereby the control unit further generates, before the scheduled date and time, an alarm with respect to the path setup at the scheduled date and time corresponding to the control instruction.

5. The NE according to claim 2, wherein the control instruction for setting up a path at a scheduled date and time includes:

a scheduled date and time when the path is intended to be established; and

a scheduled date and time when the path is intended to be deleted.

6. The NE according to claim 2, wherein the control instruction for path setup is made through GMPLS including RSVP-TE and OSPF-TE protocols further comprising:

a protocol processing unit which processes the protocols of the GMLPS and which transmits and receives a message based on the RSVP-TE including information on the scheduled date and time.

7. The NE according to claim 6, wherein, before it arrives at the scheduled date and time, the protocol processing unit advertises a link information update message based on the OSPF-TE corresponding to the path setup at the scheduled date and time.

8. The NE according to claim 6, wherein, the protocol processing unit transmits and receives a link update message based on the OSPF-TE including a link-information scheduled date and time corresponding to the scheduled date and time, and performs route calculation using a link state information corresponding to the scheduled date and time, and when the link-information scheduled date and time arrives, updates a LSDB (Link State Data Base).

9. The NE according to claim 6, wherein, when a path is set up at the scheduled date and time, the protocol processing unit exchanges a path setup execution message with other NEs on a route of the path.

10. The NE according to claim 6, wherein, when a failure occurs and when a configuration/component change of the NE is made:

the first check unit further checks if the resources of the NE are applicable to path setup at a scheduled date and time, the path setup corresponding to the control instruction; and

the second check unit further checks if the resources of the NE are applicable, whereby an alarm is generated before the scheduled date and time with respect to the path setup at the scheduled date and time corresponding to the control instruction.

11. The NE according to claim 10, wherein, in a case where protection is set for the path setup at a scheduled date and time, when a failure occurs and when a configuration/components change of the NE is made, the control unit further performs a control corresponding to a state where the protection is implemented.

3. An NE to which path setup is possible, comprising:

first check means for checking, when a control instruction for path setup at a scheduled date and time is inputted, if the control instruction is applicable to the NE;

second check means for checking if resources of the NE corresponding to the control instruction are available at the scheduled date and time; and

control means for executing the control instruction in such a manner that the control instruction can be completed at the scheduled date and time.

12. A path setup method in each of NEs (network elements) which constitute a network, comprising:

a first checking step of checking, when a control instruction for path setup at a scheduled date and time is inputted, if the control instruction is applicable to the NE;

a second checking step of checking if resources of the NE corresponding to the control instruction are available at the scheduled date and time; and

a controlling step of executing the control instruction in such a manner that the control instruction can be completed at the scheduled date and time.

13. The path setup method according to claim 12, wherein:

the first checking step further comprises a step of checking if the resources of the NE are applicable to path setup at a scheduled date and time, the path setup corresponding to the control instruction; and

the second checking step further comprises;

a step of checking if the resources of the NE are applicable and a step of generating, before the scheduled date and time, an alarm with respect to the path setup corresponding to the control instruction.

14. The path setup method according to claim 12, wherein the control instruction for setting up a path at a scheduled date and time includes:

a scheduled date and time when the path is intended to be established; and

a scheduled date and time when the path is intended to be deleted.

15. The path setup method according to claim 12, wherein the control instruction for path setup at a scheduled date and time is made through GMPLS including RSVP-TE and OSPF-TE protocols further comprising:

a protocol processing step of processing the GMLPS protocols and of transmitting and receiving a message based on the RSVP-TE including information on the scheduled date and time.

16. The path setup method according to claim 12, wherein the protocol processing step further comprisies a step of advertising, before it arrives at the scheduled date and time, a link information update message based on the OSPF-TE corresponding to the path setup at the scheduled date and time.

17. The path setup method according to claim 12, wherein, the protocol processing step further comprises:

a step of transmitting and receiving a link update message based on the OSPF-TE including a link-information scheduled date and time corresponding to the scheduled date and time; and

a step of applying, when the link-information scheduled date and time arrives, the link update message to route calculation after the link-information scheduled date and time.

18. The path setup method according to claim 12, wherein the protocol processing method further comprises a step of exchanging, when a path is set up at the scheduled date and time, a path setup execution message with other NEs on a route of the path.

19. The path setup method according to claim 12, wherein, when a failure occurs and when a configuration/components change of the NE is made:

the first checking step further comprises a step of checking if the resources of the NE are applicable to path setup at a scheduled date and time, the path setup corresponding to the control instruction; and

the second checking step further comprises a step of checking if the resources of the NE are applicable, and a step of generating, before the scheduled date and time, an alarm with respect to the path setup at the scheduled date and time corresponding to the control instruction.

20. The path setup method according to claim 19, wherein, in a case where protection is set for the path setup at a scheduled date and time, when a failure occurs and when a configuration/components change of the NE is made, the controlling step further comprises a step of performing a control corresponding to a state where the protection is implemented.