Method and system for implementing a protection switching protocol

• US 5,930,232 A
• Filed: 03/01/1996
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alcatel Network Systems India Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel Network Systems India Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Douglas W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, CHI HO A
• Application Number:
  US08/612,982
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 370/216, 370/217, 370/218, 370/219, 370/220, 370/241, 370/354, 370/465, 370/242, 370/244, 370/246, 370/250, 370/228, 370/351, 370/463, 370/359
• US Class Current: 370/216
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13167 Redundant apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/54533 Configuration data, translation, passwords, databases

Abstract

Method and system for implementing a protection switching protocol of a telecommunications network (14). The method and system employs a protection object (80) including a set of attributes (84) and a set of functions (86) in communication with the attributes (84). The attributes (84) may store switching state information of the telecommunications network (14). The functions (86) may include a set of service functions (88) and a set of private functions (90). The service functions (88) may accept switching state information of the telecommunications network (14), store that information to the attributes (84) and retrieved that information from the attributes (84). The private functions (90) may also retrieved switching state information from the attributes (84). The private functions (90) may be invoked by a service function (88) or by another private function (90). Together, the service functions (88) and the private functions (90) implement the predefined protection switching protocol and invoke a set of system functions (100). The system functions (100) effect switching operations of the telecommunications network (14).

Claims

1. A protection switching subsystem, comprising:

a computer directed by a protection object, comprising;

a storage device operable to store data;

a memory operable to store the protection object; and

a processor coupled to the storage device and the memory wherein the processor is operable to execute the protection object;

a system-independent protection object comprising;

a set of attributes to the store switching state information of a telecommunications system; and

a set of modular functions in communication with the attributes, wherein the protection object is operable to;

accept switching state information of the telecommunications system;

store switching state information to the attributes;

retrieve switching state information from the attributes;

implement a predefined protection switching protocol; and

invoke a set of system functions; and

an interface to communicate between the telecommunications system and the protection object, the interface operable to;

accept switching state information and switching events of the telecommunications system;

pass switching state information to the protection object system;

invoke functions of the protection object associated with the switching events; and

effect system-dependent switching operations of the telecommunications system.

2. The protection switching subsystem of claim 1, wherein the modular functions comprise:

a set of service functions to accept switching state information of the telecommunications system, to store switching state information to the attributes, to retrieve switching state information from the attributes, and to invoke a set of private functions;

the service functions and the private functions operative to implement the predefined protection switching protocol of the hardware of the telecommunications system and to invoke the system functions.

3. The protection switching subsystem of claim 1, further comprising the predefined protection switching protocol being a 1+1 mode of the Automatic Protection Switching (APS) protocol defined by Bellcore for a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET).

4. The protection object of claim 1, wherein a system function is invoked by the protection object.

5. The protection object of claim 2, wherein a private function is further operable to invoke another private function and to retrieve switching state information from the attributes.

9. The shelf of claim 1, wherein a system function is invoked by the protection object.

6. A shelf of a telecommunications system comprising:

a data path module coupled to a communication link, the data path module including a processing chip in communication with a processor, the processor operative to monitor the communication link and the processing chip for switching information and switching events; and

a protection switching subsystem to accept switching information and switching events from the processor, comprising;

a protection object including;

a set of attributes to the store switching state information of said telecommunications system; and

a set of modular functions in communication with the attributes, wherein the set of modular functions are operable to direct a computer in the protection system subsystem to to accept switching state information of said telecommunications system, to store switching state information to the attributes, to retrieve switching state information from the attributes, to implement a predefined protection switching protocol, and to invoke a set of system functions; and

an interface to communicate between the processor and the protection object, the interface comprising;

a task to accept switching state information and switching events of the processor, to pass switching state information to the protection object, and to invoke functions of the protection object associated with the switching events; and

the set of system functions operative to effect system-dependent switching operations of said telecommunications system.

7. The shelf of claim 6, wherein the modular functions of the protection object comprise:

a set of service functions to accept switching state information of said telecommunications system, to store switching state information to the attributes, to retrieve switching state information from the attributes, and to invoke a set of private functions;

the service functions and the private functions operative to implement the predefined protection switching protocol of the hardware of the telecommunications system and to invoke the system functions.

8. The shelf of claim 6, further comprising the predefined protection switching protocol being a 1+1 mode of the Automatic Protection Switching (APS) protocol defined by Bellcore for a Synchronous Optical Network (SONET).

10. The shelf of claim 7, wherein a private function is further operable to invoke another private function and to retrieve switching state information from the attributes.

11. The shelf of claim 6, further comprising an operator station in communication with the protection switching subsystem, the protection switching subsystem to accept switching events from the operator station.

12. The shelf of claim 11, further comprising a serial connection coupled between the protection switching subsystem and the operator station.