Link aggregation
First Claim
1. A method for aggregating a plurality of physical lines connecting adjacent nodes within a network comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
- determining line status information for at least two of said plurality of physical lines connecting adjacent first and second nodes, where said line status information includes information regarding available data transmission bandwidth for transferring data between said adjacent first and said second nodes;
associating at least a first and second of said plurality of physical lines connecting said first and second nodes with one another to create a first aggregated link, wherein said first and second of said plurality of physical lines are associated without affecting traffic;
determining aggregate status information for said first aggregated link;
broadcasting aggregate status information for said first aggregated link to at least one adjacent node and one non-adjacent node, where said first aggregated link includes the maximum data transmission bandwidth available over a one of said plurality of physical lines within said first aggregated link; and
if one of said at least said first and second of said plurality of physical lines fails, performing local span restoration within said first aggregated link;
wherein the network comprises an optical network; and
wherein the method is implemented as one of part of a signaling and routing protocol for the optical network, a sub-network connection client module communicating with the optical network, and combinations thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for aggregating a plurality of parallel communications links transmitting data between adjacent nodes in a network is provided. The method simplifies network topology by replacing multiple parallel communications links between nodes in the network with a single aggregated link. The method advertises the available bandwidth of each aggregated link to the network, the available bandwidth being the maximum bandwidth available for any one of the parallel links in the aggregate. The method permits each aggregated link to select which of the parallel links in the aggregate is to be used to transfer data from one node to the other. Aggregating links can be automatic and based on one or more predetermined criteria, such as the service class supported by the parallel links.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method for aggregating a plurality of physical lines connecting adjacent nodes within a network comprising a plurality of nodes, the method comprising:
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determining line status information for at least two of said plurality of physical lines connecting adjacent first and second nodes, where said line status information includes information regarding available data transmission bandwidth for transferring data between said adjacent first and said second nodes; associating at least a first and second of said plurality of physical lines connecting said first and second nodes with one another to create a first aggregated link, wherein said first and second of said plurality of physical lines are associated without affecting traffic; determining aggregate status information for said first aggregated link; broadcasting aggregate status information for said first aggregated link to at least one adjacent node and one non-adjacent node, where said first aggregated link includes the maximum data transmission bandwidth available over a one of said plurality of physical lines within said first aggregated link; and if one of said at least said first and second of said plurality of physical lines fails, performing local span restoration within said first aggregated link; wherein the network comprises an optical network; and wherein the method is implemented as one of part of a signaling and routing protocol for the optical network, a sub-network connection client module communicating with the optical network, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for directing information across a plurality of physical lines and switches in a network, the method comprising:
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storing line status information from said plurality of physical lines connecting a first switch to a second switch adjacent said first switch, the line status information including at least currently available bandwidth across each of said plurality of physical lines; grouping at least two of said plurality of physical lines connecting the first switch and the second switch into a first aggregated link without affecting traffic on said at least two of said plurality of physical lines; storing aggregate status information about the first aggregated link including the currently available bandwidth for a one of said plurality of physical lines within said first aggregated link having the highest currently available bandwidth selected from the line status information for said plurality of physical lines, where said aggregate status information is accessible by remote switches; receiving a request to send information from said first switch to said second switch, said request including the amount of required bandwidth for the information; directing the information across said first aggregated link only if said stored aggregate status information includes a currently available bandwidth greater than the required bandwidth for the information; and if one of said at least two of said plurality of physical lines fails, performing local span restoration within said first aggregated link; wherein the network comprises an optical network; and wherein the method is implemented as one of part of a signaling and routing protocol for the optical network, a sub-network connection client module communicating with the optical network, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for directing information across a plurality of physical lines and switches in a network, the method comprising:
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grouping at least two of said plurality of physical lines connecting a first switch and a second switch adjacent said first switch into a first aggregated link without affecting traffic of said at least two of said plurality of physical lines; storing aggregate status information accessible by a third switch from said plurality of physical lines connecting a first switch to a second switch, the aggregate status information including at least currently available bandwidth across each of said plurality of physical lines; receiving a request to send information from said first switch to said second switch, said request including the amount of required bandwidth for the information; and directing the information across said first aggregated link only if said stored aggregate status information includes a currently available bandwidth greater than the required bandwidth for the information; and if one of said at least two of said plurality of physical lines fails, performing local span restoration within said first aggregated link; wherein the network comprises an optical network; and wherein the method is implemented as one of part of a signaling and routing protocol for the optical network, a sub-network connection client module communicating with the optical network, and combinations thereof. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for directing information across a plurality of physical lines and switches in a network, the method comprising:
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grouping at least two of said plurality of physical lines connecting a first of said switches and a second of said switches into a first aggregated link without affecting traffic on said at least two of said plurality of physical lines; storing aggregate status information from said plurality of physical lines connecting a first switch to a second switch, the aggregate status information including at least currently available bandwidth across each of said plurality of physical lines and the class of service for each of said plurality of physical lines; receiving a request to send information from said first switch to said second switch, said request including the amount of required bandwidth for the information and the minimum class of service required; and directing the information across said first aggregated link only if said stored aggregate status information includes a currently available bandwidth greater than the required bandwidth for the information; selecting a physical line from said plurality of physical lines within the first aggregated link by determining a group of physical lines having a currently available bandwidth at least as great as the required bandwidth for the request and having at least the minimum class of service required by the request; selecting an optimal physical line from said determined group having the least currently available bandwidth; directing the information across said optimal physical line; and if one of said at least two of said plurality of physical lines fails, performing local span restoration within said first aggregated link; wherein the network comprises an optical network; and wherein the method is implemented as one of part of a signaling and routing protocol for the optical network, a sub-network connection client module communicating with the optical network, and combinations thereof.
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Specification