Method and apparatus for internetworking networks
First Claim
1. A heterogeneous network comprising:
- a first network including a first plurality of nodes;
a second network including a second plurality of nodes, the second plurality of nodes including multiple interworking nodes at an interface between the first network and the second network, each interworking node configured to monitor a status of a link between itself and at least one peer node on the first network and maintain connectivity with another interworking node via the second network, at least a subset of the first plurality of nodes and the multiple interworking nodes forming a ring with a configuration in which at least two of the multiple interworking nodes are logically adjacent to each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for seamlessly combining an access ring aggregation network, e.g., a G.8032 network, and a core network, e.g., a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. A link status is monitored between an interworking node and at least one peer node in a first network at an interface between the first network and a second network. Connectivity is maintained between the interworking node and the other interworking node(s) via the second network. Communications between the first and second networks are supported via at least one of the interworking nodes. Ring communications are supported among the interworking node, the other interworking node(s), and the peer node(s). End-to-end integration of two disparate networks according to presently disclosed techniques provides network designers and customers with flexibility in designing, operating, and maintaining networks.
57 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A heterogeneous network comprising:
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a first network including a first plurality of nodes; a second network including a second plurality of nodes, the second plurality of nodes including multiple interworking nodes at an interface between the first network and the second network, each interworking node configured to monitor a status of a link between itself and at least one peer node on the first network and maintain connectivity with another interworking node via the second network, at least a subset of the first plurality of nodes and the multiple interworking nodes forming a ring with a configuration in which at least two of the multiple interworking nodes are logically adjacent to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of internetworking, the method comprising:
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monitoring a status of a link between an interworking node and at least one peer node in a first network, including a first plurality of nodes, at an interface between the first network and a second network, the second network including a second plurality of nodes including the interworking node and at least one other interworking node; maintaining connectivity between the interworking node and the at least one other interworking node via the second network; supporting communications between the first and second networks via at least one of the interworking nodes; and supporting ring communications among the interworking node, the at least one other interworking node, and the at least one peer node. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An interworking node comprising:
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a link status module configured to monitor a status of a link between the interworking node and a peer node in a first network; a connection status module configured to monitor a connectivity status between the interworking node and another interworking node, the interworking nodes configured to support interworking activities at an interface between the first network and a second network including the interworking nodes; an internetworking information storage unit to store information to enable traffic to flow via the interworking node between the first network and the second network; and a traffic support module to enable traffic to flow in a ring among the interworking node, the other interworking node, and at least the peer node in the first network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of internetworking at an interworking node, the method comprising:
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monitoring a status of a link between the interworking node and at least one peer node in a first network, including a first plurality of nodes, at an interface between the first network and a second network, the second network including a second plurality of nodes including the interworking node and at least one other interworking node; maintaining connectivity between the interworking node and the at least one other interworking node via the second network; and supporting communications between the first and second networks via at least one of the interworking nodes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A ring network comprising:
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multiple ring nodes employing a ring protocol; and multiple interworking nodes, each interworking node employing at least a second protocol different from the ring protocol and configured to monitor a status of a link between itself and a ring node and maintain connectivity with another interworking node. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of networking comprising:
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employing a ring protocol at multiple ring nodes; employing a second protocol different from the ring protocol at an interworking node in a plurality of interworking nodes; monitoring a status of a link between the interworking node and a peer node among the ring nodes and a connectivity state with another interworking node, and supporting ring communications among at least the interworking node, the peer node, and the other interworking node. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification