System and method for monitoring end nodes using Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) in an access network

• US 20060159008A1
• Filed: 12/22/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ooghe, Sven, Sridhar, Kamakshi, Vissers, Maarten Petrus Joseph, Suhail, Atiya
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,742 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2881 IP/Ethernet DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0226 Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/32 Specific management aspects for broadband networks

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring end nodes using Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) in an access network. In one embodiment, a broadband access server (BRAS) is operable to generate an Ethernet CFM frame that includes a query message with respect to a particular end node. An interworking function (IWF) entity associated with an access node that services the particular end node is operable to interpret the Ethernet CFM frame and construct a corresponding query message in a native protocol compatible with the particular end node. Upon receiving a reply message from the particular end node, the IWF entity constructs a suitable reply Ethernet CFM frame for transmission to the BRAS, wherein the reply Ethernet CFM frame includes a response corresponding to the reply message from the end node.

Claims

1. A monitoring method operable with an access network, wherein said access network includes at least one access node connected to one or more end nodes and a broadband access server (BRAS) connected to a regional Ethernet network, comprising:

generating by said BRAS an Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) frame directed to an access node associated therewith, wherein said Ethernet CFM frame includes a query message with respect to a particular end node served by said access node;

interpreting said Ethernet CFM frame by an interworking function (IWF) entity associated with said access node and constructing a corresponding query message in a native protocol compatible with respect to said particular end node;

responsive to said corresponding query message from said access node, generating by said particular end node a reply message in said native protocol directed to said access node;

interpreting said reply message by said IWF entity and constructing a reply Ethernet CFM frame including a response that corresponds to said reply message; and

transmitting said reply Ethernet CFM frame to said BRAS.

2. The monitoring method operable with an access network as recited in claim 1, wherein said IWF entity associated with said access node is defined as a Maintenance End Point (MEP) that is part of an Ethernet CFM domain including said BRAS.

3. The monitoring method operable with an access network as recited in claim 1, wherein said Ethernet CFM frame is generated by said BRAS responsive to an action from an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server operably coupled to said access network.

4. The monitoring method operable with an access network as recited in claim 1, wherein said native protocol is operable with Ethernet in First Mile (EFM) Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) messaging.

5. The monitoring method operable with an access network as recited in claim 1, wherein said native protocol is operable with Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) messaging.

6. The monitoring method operable with an access network as recited in claim 1, wherein said IWF entity associated with said access node comprises a Maintenance End Point (MEP) that is part of an Ethernet CFM domain defined on a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).

7. The monitoring method operable with an access network as recited in claim 6, wherein said VLAN is operable with a 1:

1 port addressing scheme.

8. The monitoring method operable with an access network as recited in claim 6, wherein said VLAN is operable with an N:

1 port addressing scheme.

9. A monitoring system associated with an access network, wherein said access network includes at least one access node connected to one or more end nodes and a broadband access server (BRAS) connected to a regional Ethernet network, comprising:

means associated with said BRAS for generating an Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) frame directed to an access node associated therewith, wherein said Ethernet CFM frame includes a query message with respect to a particular end node served by said access node;

interworking function (IWF) means associated with said access node for interpreting said Ethernet CFM frame and constructing a corresponding query message in a native protocol compatible with respect to said particular end node; and

means associated with said particular end node, operable responsive to said corresponding query message from said access node, for generating a reply message in said native protocol directed to said access node,

wherein said IWF means operates to interpret said reply message in said native protocol and constructs a reply Ethernet CFM frame including a response that corresponds to said reply message, said reply Ethernet CFM frame for transmission to said BRAS.

10. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 9, wherein said means for generating said Ethernet CFM frame is operable responsive to an action from an Authentication, Authorization and Accounting (AAA) server operably coupled to said access network.

11. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 9, wherein said native protocol is operable with Ethernet in First Mile (EFM) Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) messaging.

12. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 9, wherein said native protocol is operable with Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) messaging.

13. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 9, wherein said IWF means associated with said access node comprises a Maintenance End Point (MEP) that is part of an Ethernet CFM domain defined on a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN).

14. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 13, wherein said VLAN is operable with a 1:

1 port addressing scheme.

15. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 13, wherein said VLAN is operable with an N:

1 port addressing scheme.

16. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 9, wherein said particular end node comprises a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) modem port.

17. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 9, wherein said particular end node comprises a residential gateway (RG) port.

18. The monitoring system associated with an access network as recited in claim 9, wherein said particular end node comprises a network termination (NT) port.

19. A network element operable in an access network, comprising:

a logic structure adapted to interpret an Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) frame received from a broadband access server (BRAS) disposed in said access network, said Ethernet CFM frame including a query message with respect to an end node served by said network element operating as an access node;

a logic structure adapted to construct a corresponding query message in a native protocol compatible with said end node, said corresponding query message being based on said query message in said Ethernet CFM frame;

a logic structure adapted to interpret a reply message provided by said end node in said native protocol responsive to said corresponding query message; and

a logic structure adapted to construct a reply Ethernet CFM frame including a response that corresponds to said reply message received from said end node, said reply Ethernet CFM message for transmission to said BRAS.

20. The network element as recited in claim 19, wherein said native protocol is operable with Ethernet in First Mile (EFM) Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) messaging.

21. The network element as recited in claim 19, wherein said native protocol is operable with Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Operations, Administration and Management (OAM) messaging.