Method and apparatus for transporting network management information in a telecommunications network

• US 7,573,915 B1
• Filed: 11/30/2000
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Roberson, Charles Scott, Le, Phu Son, Elliott, Paul M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US09/727,905
• Time in Patent Office: 3,176 Days
• Field of Search: 370230-245, 370352-365, 370524-541, 370412-499, 709223-246
• US Class Current: 370/541
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 2203/0058 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/12 Arrangements providing for calling or supervisory signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/00 Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/022 Multivendor or multi-standard integration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/34 Signalling channels for network management communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/342 between virtual entities, e.g. orchestrators, SDN or NFV entities

Abstract

Network management information (NMI) contained in a first set of byte locations of a received frame is relocated to a second set of byte locations of another frame. The NMI is then transported through network elements using the second set of byte locations until the NMI is to be transported to a compatible network element, which can understand the NMI. At which time, the NMI is relocated back to the first set of byte locations of frames destined for the compatible network element. The relocation of the NMI from a first set of byte locations to a second set of byte locations allows the NMI to be transparently transported through incompatible network elements.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of time slots, wherein

said time slots comprise a first frame and a second frame,

said second frame is received subsequently to said first frame, and

said first frame and said second frame are time-division multiplexed frames;

relocating existing network management information of said second frame from a set of byte locations of said second frame to another set of byte locations of said second frame;

relocating network management information from a first set of byte locations of said first frame to said set of byte locations of said second frame;

cross-connecting said time slot;

selecting at least one of said time slots;

receiving a plurality of incoming time slots;

sequentially writing said incoming time slots into a plurality of input buffers;

randomly reading a plurality of outgoing time slots from said input buffers; and

outputting said outgoing time slots.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting said network management information; and

routing said network management information.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said cross-connecting comprises said selecting said at least one of said time slots.

4. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of time slots, wherein

said time slots comprise a first frame and a second frame, said second frame is received subsequently to said first frame, and

said first frame and said second frame are time-division multiplexed frames;

means for relocating existing network management information of said second frame from a set of byte locations of said second frame to another set of byte locations of said second frame;

means for relocating network management information from a first set of byte locations of said first frame to said set of byte locations of said second frame;

means for cross-connecting said time slots;

means for selecting at least one of said time slots;

means for receiving a plurality of incoming time slots;

means for sequentially writing said incoming time slots into a plurality of input buffers;

means for randomly reading a plurality of outgoing time slots from said input buffers; and

means for outputting said outgoing time slots.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising:

means for extracting said network management information; and

means for routing said network management information.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said means for cross-connecting comprises said means for selecting.

7. A program on a computer readable medium product comprising:

a first set of instructions, executable on a computer system, configured to receive a plurality of time slots, wherein

said time slots comprise a first frame and a second frame,

said second frame is received subsequently to said first frame, and

said first frame and said second frame are time-division multiplexed frames;

a second set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to relocate network management information from a first set of byte locations of said first frame to said set of byte locations of said second frame;

a third set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to cross-connect said time slots;

a fourth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to select at least one of said time slots;

a fifth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to receive a plurality of incoming time slots;

a sixth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to sequentially write said incoming time slots into a plurality of input buffers;

a seventh set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to randomly read a plurality of outgoing time slots from said input buffers;

an eighth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to output said outgoing time slots; and

computer readable storage media, wherein said computer program product is encoded in said computer readable storage media.

8. The program of claim 7, further comprising:

a ninth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to extract said network management information; and

a tenth set of instructions, executable on said computer system, configured to select at least one of said time slots.