Line-level path protection in the optical layer
First Claim
1. In a mesh network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, a method of operating a node to handle link failure, said method comprising:
- detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer;
signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer only without flooding throughout said mesh network; and
switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods provide very fast protection switching while leaving selected traffic unprotected. When a link fails, only certain pre-selected paths are rerouted at the point of failure. Other traffic is left unprotected or protected at another layer. Signaling of the failure and the rerouting is performed for the link as a whole rather than for the individual paths. Signaling occurs at a first layer of a digital transmission hierarchy while path rerouting switching occurs at a second hierarchical layer above the first layer. In certain implementations, K1/K2 bytes are used in signaling at the optical line layer (OC-n), while only protected High-Order paths (STS) and Low-Order paths (VT) are protected by the protection switch.
40 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a mesh network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, a method of operating a node to handle link failure, said method comprising:
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detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer only without flooding throughout said mesh network; and switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a mesh network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, apparatus for operating a node to handle link failure, said apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; means for signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer only without flooding throughout said mesh network; and means for switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, apparatus for operating a node to handle link failure, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a memory storing instructions for execution by said processor, said instructions comprising; code that causes detection of failure of a data communication link defined at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; code that causes signaling of local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer; and code that causes switching of only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. In a network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, a computer program product for operating a node to handle link failure, said computer program product comprising:
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code that causes detection of failure of a data communication link defined at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; code that causes signaling of local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer below said first hierarchical layer; code that causes switching of only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure; and a computer-readable storage medium that stores the codes.
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22. In a mesh network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, a method of operating a node to handle link failure, said method comprising:
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detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer without flooding throughout said mesh network; and switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure.
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23. In a mesh network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, a method of operating a node to handle link failure, said method comprising:
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detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer comprising STS-1 communications, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer comprising VT1.5 communications above said second hierarchical layer; signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer; and switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure.
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24. In a network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, a method of operating a node to handle link failure, said method comprising:
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detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer; pre-configuring which ones of said plurality of paths are protected; and switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure.
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25. In a network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, a method of operating a node to handle link failure, said method comprising:
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detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer; pre-configuring protection routes for said plurality of protected paths; and switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to protection routes through said network to avoid said failure.
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26. In a mesh network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, apparatus for operating a node to handle link failure, said apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; means for signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer signaling without flooding throughout said mesh network; and means for switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure.
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27. In a network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, apparatus for operating a node to handle link failure, said apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer comprising STS-1 communications, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer comprising VT1.5 communications above said second hierarchical layer; means for signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer; and means for switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure.
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28. In a network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, apparatus for operating a node to handle link failure, said apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; means for signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer; means for pre-configuring which ones of said plurality of paths are protected; and means for switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to alternate routes through said network to avoid said failure.
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29. In a network that employs a hierarchical digital transmission standard, apparatus for operating a node to handle link failure, said apparatus comprising:
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means for detecting failure of a data communication link at a second hierarchical layer, wherein said link is employed by a plurality of paths defined at a first hierarchical layer above said second hierarchical layer; means for signaling local repair of said failure using overhead information of said second hierarchical layer; means for pre-configuring protection routes for said plurality of protected paths; and means for switching only protected ones of said plurality of paths to protection routes through said network to avoid said failure.
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Specification