Back-up restoration technique for SONET/SHD rings
First Claim
1. For use with a network that includes (i) at least one service ring configured of first links that each run between a pair of nodes to form a ring-like path;
- (ii) at least one protection ring configured of second links that each runs between said pair of nodes in parallel with a corresponding first link; and
(iii) a mesh sub-network network that includes a plurality of third links that collectively provide point-to-point connectivity between selected nodes, a method for restoring traffic in the event of a failure of a failed link, comprising;
monitoring the service and protection rings, respectively, to determine whether each of the first and second links is one of a failed or active state;
simultaneously monitoring the mesh network to determine whether each third link is in an active or failed state; and
establishing, in response to a determination that one of said first and third links has failed, a restoration path comprised of at least one of said second and third links that are in an active state, and effecting the switching of traffic from a failed one of said first links and third links, as determined from said monitoring steps, onto said restoration path.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A restoration network architecture (100) includes both service and protection SONET/SDH rings (15, 17) as well as a mesh network (25) including point-to-point paths (261-262). Monitoring Equipment (28, 30) monitor the status of service links (141-164) and protection links (161-164) in the service and protection rings, respectively, along with the status of the point-to point links in the mesh network. Upon detecting a failure of one of the service links and point-to-point links, an Operations Systems Data Server (32) establishes a restoration path based on the available protection links and available point-to-point links. Traffic is then restored on such the restoration path. In this way, a failure in the service ring can be restored in the mesh network while a failure in the mesh network can be restored in the protection ring.
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Citations
7 Claims
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1. For use with a network that includes (i) at least one service ring configured of first links that each run between a pair of nodes to form a ring-like path;
- (ii) at least one protection ring configured of second links that each runs between said pair of nodes in parallel with a corresponding first link; and
(iii) a mesh sub-network network that includes a plurality of third links that collectively provide point-to-point connectivity between selected nodes, a method for restoring traffic in the event of a failure of a failed link, comprising;monitoring the service and protection rings, respectively, to determine whether each of the first and second links is one of a failed or active state;
simultaneously monitoring the mesh network to determine whether each third link is in an active or failed state; and
establishing, in response to a determination that one of said first and third links has failed, a restoration path comprised of at least one of said second and third links that are in an active state, and effecting the switching of traffic from a failed one of said first links and third links, as determined from said monitoring steps, onto said restoration path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
- (ii) at least one protection ring configured of second links that each runs between said pair of nodes in parallel with a corresponding first link; and
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4. A restoration network comprising:
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at least one service ring configured of first links that each runs between a pair of nodes to form a ring-like path, at least one protection ring configured of second links that each runs between said pair of nodes in parallel with a corresponding first link;
a mesh sub-network network that includes a plurality of third links that collectively provide point-to-point connectivity between selected nodes;
means for monitoring the service and protection rings to determine whether each of the first and second link is one of a failed or active state; and
for monitoring the mesh network simultaneously with the service and protection rings to determine whether each third link is in an active or failed state; and
means for establishing, in response to a determination that one of said first and third links has failed, a restoration path comprised of at least one of said second and third links that is in an active state, and means for switching traffic from a failed one of said first links and third links, as determined from said monitoring steps, onto said restoration path. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7)
a common language specific equipment Assignment (CLSEA) system that maintains information concerning link assignments; and
an operations systems data server (OSDS) for establishing the restoration path in accordance with information from said CLSEA system and said monitoring means.
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6. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein each of said first, second, and third links each comprise an optical fiber link.
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7. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the monitoring means comprises:
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a transport maintenance administration system (TMAS) for monitoring traffic in said network; and
an element monitoring system for monitoring elements in said service and protection rings.
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Specification