Link aggregation with internal load balancing

• US 20070133618A1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Network Communications Incorporated (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Brolin, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,990,853 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/514
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0094 Virtual Concatenation
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/1694 Allocation of channels in TDM/TDMA networks, e.g. distributed multiplexers Passive Optical Networks H04Q11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/024 using relational databases for representation of network management data, e.g. managing via structured query language [SQL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/042 comprising distributed management centres cooperatively managing the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0856 by backing up or archiving configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5054 Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/509 wherein the managed service relates to media content delivery, e.g. audio, video or TV
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/16 Multipoint routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/15 Interconnection of switching modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/1523 Parallel switch fabric planes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/30 Peripheral units, e.g. input or output ports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/352 Gigabit ethernet switching [GBPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/357 Fibre channel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/50 Overload detection or protection within a single switching element
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0062 Network aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0067 : Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0071 : Provisions for the electrical-optical layer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0079 : Operation or maintenance aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0083 : Testing; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0084 : Quality of service aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20009 : using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures in cabinets of standardized dimensions H05K7/20536; in server cabinets H05K7/20709; in vehicle electronic casings H05K7/20845; in power control electronics H05K7/2089; in displays H05K7/20954
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/202 : Air circulating in closed loop within enclosure wherein heat is removed through heat-exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them

Abstract

A system and method provides Link Aggregation that internalizes the link aggregation to improve internal traffic capacity, in addition to sharing traffic across external links to connecting packet systems.. A system for handling data traffic comprises a plurality of network switches, each network switch having an interface to a packet network, the interface arranged so as to provide at least one link aggregation group, an interface to at least one other network switch, and an interface to each of a plurality of optical network service units, a plurality of optical network service units, each optical network service units having an interface to each of the plurality of network switches and an interface to at least one optical network, wherein each network switch is operable to receive data over a link aggregation group from the packet network and transmit the data to at least one optical network service unit either directly or via another network switch based on an optical network to which the data is destined (or other criteria) Also, each optical network service unit can send upstream data to any port of either network switch- via selected internal paths.

Claims

1. A system for handling data traffic comprising:

a plurality of network switches, each network switch having an interface to a packet network, the interface arranged so as to provide at least one link aggregation group, an interface to at least one other network switch, and an interface to each of a plurality of optical network service units; and

a plurality of optical network service units, each optical network service units having an interface to each of the plurality of network switches and an interface to at least one optical network;

wherein each network switch is operable to receive data over a link aggregation group from the packet network and transmit the data to at least one optical network service unit either directly or via another network switch based on an optical network to which the data is destined.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein each network switch is further operable to receive data from at least one optical network service unit and transmit the data to the packet network over the link aggregation group.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein each network switch is further operable to distribute the data across the network switches and the interface to the packet network based on data traffic demand and congestion.

4. A system for handling data traffic comprising:

a first network switch having an interface to a packet network, the interface arranged so as to provide at least a portion of at least one link aggregation group, an interface to a second network switch, and an interface to each of a plurality of optical network service units;

the second network switch having an interface to the packet network, the interface arranged so as to provide at least a portion of at least one link aggregation group, an interface to the first network switch, and an interface to each of a plurality of optical network service units; and

a plurality of optical network service units, each optical network service units having an interface to each of the network switches and an interface to at least one optical network;

wherein data in the link aggregation group that is destined for a first optical network is received by both the first network switch and the second network switch, the data that is received by the first network switch is transmitted to an optical network service unit from the first network switch, and the data that is received by the second network switch is transmitted to the optical network service unit via the first network switch.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein data in the link aggregation group that is destined for a second optical network is received by both the first network switch and the second network switch, the data that is received by the second network switch is transmitted to the optical network service units from the second network switch, and the data that is received by the first network switch is transmitted to the optical network service unit via the second network switch.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each network switch is further operable to receive data from at least one optical network service unit and transmit the data to the packet network over the link aggregation group.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein each network switch is further operable to distribute the data across the network switches and the interface to the packet network based on data traffic demand and predicted congestion.