Method and system for variable viability summarization in communication networks

• US 20080002680A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Fedyk, Donald, Skalecki, Darek
• Application Number:
  US11/479,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20080002680A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/14 Monitoring arrangements for SDH/SONET rings H04J3/085
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/12 Shortest path evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/552 by ensuring the integrity of packets received through redundant connections

Abstract

A method and apparatus for summarizing port viability information in a communication network. A port viability summarization in the form of a table or matrix is established for ports in the communication network in which the port viability summarization is used to establish links to use along a routing path. A routing path is determined using the port viability summarization. A failed route establishment for the routing path is detected. The amount of summarization is decreased for at least one port determined to have a non-viable link.

Claims

1. A method for summarizing port viability information in a communication network, the method comprising:

establishing a port viability summarization for ports in the communication network, the port viability summarization being used to establish links to use along a routing path;

determining a routing path using the port viability summarization;

detecting a failed route establishment for the routing path;

decreasing the amount of summarization for at least one port determined to have a non-viable link.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ports are optical ports and the viability summarization corresponds to a range of wavelengths that are available for egress from a particular ingress port.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

detecting an availability of a wavelength due to a decrease in network utilization; and

increasing the viability summarization for a port having newly available wavelengths.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the viability summarization corresponds to a range of time slots that are available for egress from a particular ingress port.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the communication network is a SONET.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a memory threshold, wherein an initial established port viability summarization for ports in the communication network does not exceed the memory threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a memory threshold, wherein a port viability summarization for ports in the communication network occupies an amount of memory that is approximately the memory threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the establishment of a viable route; and

discarding the port summarization.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising increasing the viability summarization for a port after a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ports are optical ports and the viability summarization corresponds to a range of wavelengths that are not available for egress from a particular ingress port.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the ports are optical ports and the viability summarization corresponds to a set of ports that are not available for egress from a particular ingress port for a particular range of wavelengths.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an indication as to whether the port viability summarization is complete.

13. A machine readable storage device having stored thereon a computer program for summarizing port viability information in a communication network, the computer program comprising a set of instructions which when executed by a machine causes the machine to perform a method comprising:

establishing a port viability summarization for ports in the communication network, the port viability summarization being used to establish links to use along a routing path;

determining a routing path using the port viability summarization;

detecting a failed route establishment for the routing path;

decreasing the amount of summarization for at least one port determined to have a non-viable link.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the ports are optical ports and the viability summarization corresponds to a range of wavelengths that are available for egress from a particular ingress port.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

detecting an availability of a wavelength due to a decrease in network utilization; and

increasing the viability summarization for a port having newly available wavelengths.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the viability summarization corresponds to a range of time slots that are available for egress from a particular ingress port.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the communication network is a SONET.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising setting a memory threshold, wherein an initial established port viability summarization for ports in the communication network does not exceed the memory threshold.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

detecting the establishment of a viable route; and

discarding the port summarization.

20. An apparatus for summarizing port viability information in a communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a central processing unit, the central processing unit;

establishing a port viability summarization for ports in the communication network, the port viability summarization being used to establish links to use along a routing path;

determining a routing path using the port viability summarization;

detecting a failed route establishment for the routing path;

decreasing the amount of summarization for at least one port determined to have a non-viable link; and

a storage unit, the storage unit storing the port viability summarization.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is a GLSR having optical ingress and egress ports, wherein the viability summarization corresponds to a range of wavelengths that are available for egress from a particular ingress port.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the central processing unit further:

detects an availability of a wavelength due to a decrease in network utilization; and

increases the viability summarization for a port having newly available wavelengths.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the viability summarization corresponds to a range of time slots that are available for egress from a particular ingress port.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the initial established port viability summarization for ports in the communication network does not exceed a predetermined memory threshold.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the central processing unit further:

detects the establishment of a viable route; and

deletes the port summarization from the storage device.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, the apparatus is a GLSR having optical ingress and egress ports, wherein the viability summarization corresponds to a range of wavelengths that are not available for egress from a particular ingress port.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, the apparatus is a GLSR having optical ingress and egress ports, wherein viability summarization corresponds to a set of ports that are not available for egress from a particular ingress port for a particular range of wavelengths.

28. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the central processing unit further provides an indication as to whether the port viability summarization is complete.