Selector switch control using priority table

• US 6,556,539 B1
• Filed: 01/12/1999
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Henderson, Gregory Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Huy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/228,914
• Time in Patent Office: 1,568 Days
• Field of Search: 370/217, 370/228, 370/218, 370/219, 370/230, 370/242, 370/244, 370/254, 370/389, 370/351, 370/360, 714/2, 714/43, 714/4, 340/825.01, 340/2.2, 340/2.7, 340/2.23
• US Class Current: 370/217
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0688 Change of the master or reference, e.g. take-over or failure of the master
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0233 Object-oriented techniques, for representation of network management data, e.g. common object request broker architecture [CORBA]
• 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 41/052 using standardised network management architectures, e.g. telecommunication management network [TMN] or unified network management architecture [UNMA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0866 Checking the configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0873 Checking configuration conflicts between network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0879 Manual configuration through operator
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0886 Fully automatic configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/147 for predicting network behaviour
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 : Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0079 : involving restoration of networks, e.g. disaster recovery, self-healing networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0083 : Network planning or design; Modelling of planned or existing networks

Abstract

A system and method for reducing undesirable phase transients caused by revertive switchover in a telecommunications network. Selector switch settings are assigned priorities. The priorities indicate an order of preference in which to assign selector switch source inputs or outputs. Selector switch sources connected to equipments that are to be used as backups of one another are assigned the same priority level. Assignment of the same priority level prevents undesirable phase transients by controlling revertive switchovers. In addition, network topology is controllable using the priority table. The controllable characteristic of the network topology provides flexibility to a network designer to provide diversity among network paths such that the network is made more robust.

Claims

1. A method, comprising a part of and operating in conjunction with a self restoration process, to control a selector switch in a telecommunications network containing network equipment having at least one selector switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding to one of a plurality of input signals, wherein each said selector switch selects one of said plurality of positions according to a predetermined priority value, comprising the steps of:

creating a table having a plurality of entries, each entry having a first field to store one of said plurality of selector switch positions, and a second field to store a predetermined priority value corresponding to a path characteristic of a signal to be input at said one of said selector switch positions; and

storing a first predetermined priority value in said second field of a first entry in said table, and a second predetermined priority value in said second field of a second entry in said table, wherein said first priority value is equal to said second predetermined priority value when a first signal coupled to said selector switch at a first position corresponding to said first field of said first entry is to serve as a substitute for a second signal coupled to said selector switch at a second position corresponding to said first field of said second entry if said second signal is disrupted.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said table is stored in a piece of network equipment.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of controlling restoration of the telecommunications network in recovering from a network performance degradation.

4. The method as recited in claim 3, wherein said controlling step further comprises the steps of:

detecting a disruption of said second signal coupled to said second position of said selector switch; and

reconfiguring said selector switch to select said first position of said selector switch corresponding to said first signal.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said selector switch maintains its selection of said second selector switch position even when said second piece of network equipment corresponding to said second signal is repaired and returned to operation in the telecommunications network.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of assigning priority values in said priority table to thereby control network topology.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the selector switches is remotely programmable.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein a predetermined priority value stored in a second field in one of said plurality of entries in said table is updated via remote programming.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said table is stored in a centralized database.

10. A system, comprising a part of and operating in conjunction with a self restoration process, to control a selector switch in a telecommunications network containing network equipment having at least one selector switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding to one of a plurality of input signals, wherein each said selector switch selects one of said plurality of positions according to a predetermined priority value, comprising:

a table having a plurality of entries, each entry having a first field to store one of said plurality of selector switch positions, and a second field to store a predetermined priority value corresponding to a path characteristic of a signal to be input at said one of said selector switch positions; and

a priority value storing device to store a first predetermined priority value in said second field of a first entry in said table, and a second predetermined priority value in said second field of a second entry in said table, wherein said first predetermined priority value is equal to said second predetermined priority value when a first signal coupled to said selector switch at a first position corresponding to said first field of said first entry is to serve as a substitute for a second signal coupled to said selector switch at a second position corresponding to said first field of said second entry if said second signal is disrupted.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said table is stored in a particular piece of network equipment.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a controller to control restoration of the telecommunications network in recovering from a network performance degradation.

13. The system as recited in claim 12, wherein said controller further comprises:

a detector to detect a disruption of said second signal coupled to said second position of said selector switch; and

a reconfiguration device to reconfigure said selector switch to select said first position of said selector switch corresponding to said first signal.

14. The system as recited in claim 13, wherein said selector switch maintains its selection of said second selector switch position even when said second piece of network equipment is repaired and returned to operation in the telecommunications network.

15. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising a diversity an assignment device to assign priorities values in said priority table to thereby control network topology.

16. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein at least one of the selector switches is remotely programmable.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein a predetermined priority value stored in a second field in one of said plurality of entries in said table is updated via remote programming.

18. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said table is stored in a centralized database.

19. A system, comprising a part of and operating in conjunction with a self restoration process, for controlling a selector switch in a telecommunications network containing network equipment having at least one selector switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding to one of a plurality of input signals, wherein each said selector switch selects one of said plurality of positions according to a predetermined priority value, comprising:

table storing means for storing a table having a plurality of entries, each entry having a first field to store one of said plurality of selector switch positions, and a second field to store a predetermined priority value corresponding to a path characteristic of a signal to be input at said one of said selector switch positions; and

priority value storing means for storing a first predetermined priority value in said second field of a first entry in said table, and a second predetermined priority value in said second field of a second entry in said table, wherein said first predetermined priority value is equal to said second predetermined priority value when a first signal coupled to said selector switch at a first position corresponding to said first field of said first entry is to serve as a substitute for a second signal coupled to said selector switch at a second position corresponding to said first field of said second entry if said second signal is disrupted.

20. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said table is stored in a particular piece of network equipment.

21. The system recited in claim 19, further comprising controlling means for controlling restoration of the telecommunications network in recovering from a network performance degradation.

22. The system as recited in claim 21, wherein said controlling means further comprises:

detecting means for detecting a disruption of said second signal coupled to said second position of said selector switch; and

reconfiguration means for reconfiguring said selector switch to select said first position of said selector switch corresponding to said first signal.

23. The system as recited in claim 22, wherein said selector switch maintains its selection of said second selector switch position even when said second piece of network equipment corresponding to said second signal is repaired and returned to operation in the telecommunications network.

24. The system as recited in claim 19, further comprising assigning means to assign priority values in said priority table to thereby control network topology.

25. The system as recited claim 19, wherein at least one of the selector switches is remotely programmable.

26. The system as recited in claim 25, wherein a predetermined priority value stored in a second field in one of said plurality of entries in said table is updated via remote programming.

27. The system as recited in claim 19, wherein said table is stored in a centralized database.

28. A method, for use in conjunction with a self restoration process, for controlling a multiposition selector switch in a telecommunications network wherein each position corresponds to one of a plurality of input signal links comprising the steps of:

assigning priority values to each one of said plurality of input signal links;

switching to another of said plurality of input signal links as part of a self restoration process when an indication of failure is received for a given first signal link to which the selector switch has been connected; and

reversion switching to said given first signal link upon notification of signal link restoration for said first signal link only if the priority assigned to said first signal link is higher than the priority assigned to said another of said plurality of input signal links.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein a higher priority is assigned to a better path characteristic signal path than is assigned to a signal path having a signal path characteristic that is less than said better path characteristic signal path.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein a higher priority is assigned to a preferred network topology than is assigned to a backup network topology.

31. A method of minimizing phase transients occurring in connection with self restoration processes occurring in a telecommunications network comprising the steps of:

assigning priority values to each of a plurality of signal paths connected to a single multiposition switch where said switch may be repositioned from a first to a second position upon detection of failure of the signal path connected to said first position; and

reversion switching to said first position upon notification of path restoration of the path connected to said first position only if the priority assigned to the path connected to said first position is higher than the priority assigned to the path connected to said second position.

32. A method to control a selector switch in a telecommunications network containing network equipment having at least one selector switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding to one of a plurality of input signals, wherein each said selector switch selects one of said plurality of positions according to a predetermined priority value, comprising the steps of:

creating a table having a plurality of entries, each entry having a first field to store one of said plurality of selector switch positions, and a second field to store a predetermined priority value corresponding to a signal path characteristic of a signal to be input at said one of said selector switch positions; and

storing a first predetermined priority value in said second field of a first entry in said table, and a second predetermined priority value in said second field of a second entry in said table, wherein said first priority value may be equal to said second predetermined priority value, the switch position having the highest priority value being the preferred position when the priority values are unequal.

33. A system to control a selector switch in a telecommunications network having at least one selector switch having a plurality of positions, each position corresponding to one of a plurality of input signal paths, wherein each said selector switch selects one of said plurality of positions according to a predetermined priority value indicative of a signal path characteristic, comprising:

a table having a plurality of entries, each entry having a first field to store one of said plurality of selector switch positions, and a second field to store a predetermined priority value corresponding to a path characteristic of a signal to be input at said one of said selector switch positions; and

a priority value storing device to store a first predetermined priority value in said second field of a first entry in said table, and a second predetermined priority value in said second field of a second entry in said table, wherein said first priority value may be equal to said second predetermined priority value, the switch position having the highest priority value being the preferred position when the priority values are unequal.