Route switching method, server, boundary node apparatus, route switching system, and route switching program

• US 8,422,360 B2
• Filed: 06/30/2009
• Issued: 04/16/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inter-university Research Institute Corporation Research Organization of Information and Systems, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inter-university Research Institute Corporation Research Organization of Information and Systems, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
• Inventors: Shimizu, Kaori, Inoue, Ichiro, Shiomoto, Kohei, Urushidani, Shigeo
• Primary Examiner(s): Sheikh, Ayaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Blanche
• Application Number:
  US12/999,113
• Publication Number:
  US 20110090785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/218
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0663 Performing the actions predefined by failover planning, e.g. switching to standby network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/70 Admission control; Resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/728 for backup paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/826 Involving periods of time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/552 by ensuring the integrity of packets received through redundant connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/40 for recovering from a failure of a protocol instance or entity, e.g. service redundancy protocols, protocol state redundancy or protocol service redirection management of faults, events, alarms or notifications in data switching networks H04L41/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A route switching method for switching a route in a core network that accommodates service networks including user node apparatuses by use of a server storing path information that includes, in every time frame, a route for a working path and a route for a backup path to be switched over from the working path, both of the working path and the backup path established between two boundary node apparatuses each of which is located on a boundary between the service network and the core network. The server calculates, in response to the connection request from the user node apparatus, a route for a working path and a route for a backup path, and requests the boundary node apparatus to establish this working path. The server can send the route for the backup path to the boundary node apparatus before a failure occurs in the core network. The boundary node apparatus establishes the working path in response to the establishment request for establishing the working path from the server, and can perform a quick recovery by switching over the working path to the backup path when a failure occurs in the core network.

Claims

1. A route switching method for switching a route in a core network that accommodates service networks including user node apparatuses by use of a server storing path information that includes, in every time frame, a route for a working path and a route for a backup path to be switched over from the working path, both of the working path and the backup path established between two boundary node apparatuses each of which is located on a boundary between the service network and the core network,

the method comprising:

performed by the server,

a connection request receiving step for receiving from one of the user node apparatuses a connection request for connecting to the core network,

a route calculation step, in response to this connection request, for confirming available resources in the path information and calculating a route for the working path and a route for the backup path based on the path information, and

a high-reliability-path requesting step for sending the boundary node apparatus the calculated routes for the working path and for the backup path along with an establishment request for establishing the working path;

performed by the boundary node apparatus,

a working path establishing step, in response to a working-path-establishment request, for establishing the working path calculated by the server between the boundary node apparatuses via relay node apparatuses that relay the core network, and

a failure detection step for detecting a failure in the core network;

when a failure is detected in the core network, performed by the boundary node apparatus,

a backup path establishment step, based on the route for the backup path calculated by the server, for establishing the backup path between the boundary node apparatuses via the relay node apparatuses,

a path switching step for switching over the working path to the backup path established, and

a backup-path-establishment sending step for sending the server the route for the backup path switched over from the working path; and

performed by the server,

a backup path establishment receiving step for receiving the route for the backup path switched over from the working path by the boundary node apparatus, and

a path information updating step for updating the path information based on the route for the backup path switched over from the working path by the boundary node apparatus.

2. A route switching method for switching a route in a core network that accommodates service networks including user node apparatuses by use of a server storing path information that includes, in every time frame, a route for a working path and a route for a backup path to be switched over from the working path, both of the working path and the backup path established between two boundary node apparatuses each of which is located on a boundary between the service network and the core network,

the method comprising:

performed by the server,

a connection request receiving step for receiving from one of the user node apparatuses a connection request for connecting to the core network,

a route calculation step, in response to the connection request, for confirming available resources based on the path information and calculating a route of the working path, and

a high-reliability-path request step for sending the boundary node apparatus the calculated routes for the working path and an establish request for establishing the working path;

performed by the boundary node apparatus,

a working-path establishment step, in response to a working-path-establishment request, for establishing the working path calculated by the server between the boundary node apparatuses via relay node apparatuses that relay the core network, and

a failure detecting step for detecting a failure in the core network;

when a failure is detected in the core network, performed by the boundary node apparatus,

a step for sending the server a backup path confirmation request;

performed by the server,

a backup route calculating step for calculating a route for the backup path in response to the backup path confirmation request sent from the boundary node apparatus, and

a backup path responding step for sending the boundary node apparatus the calculated route for the backup path;

performed by the boundary node apparatus,

a backup path establishing step for establishing the backup path between the boundary node apparatuses via the relay node apparatuses based on the route for the backup path received from the server,

a path switching step for switching over the working path to the backup path established, and

a backup-path-establishment sending step for sending the server the route for backup path switched over from the working path; and

performed by the server,

a backup-path-establishment receiving step for receiving a route for the backup path switched over from the working path by the boundary node apparatus, and

a path information updating step for updating the path information based on the route for the backup path switched over from the working path by the boundary node apparatus.

3. A server coupled with a core network that accommodates service networks including user node apparatuses, the server for storing path information that includes, in every time frame, a route for a working path and a route for a backup path, both of the working path and the backup path established between two boundary node apparatuses, for a source node and a destination node, each of which is located on a boundary between the service network and the core network, and calculating a route for the working path and a route for the backup path to be switched over from the working path when a failure occurs in the core network,

the server comprising:

a connection-request receiving unit for receiving from one of the user node apparatuses a connection request for connecting to the core network;

a route calculating unit, in response to the connection request, for calculating a route for the working path and a route for the backup path based on the path information;

a high-reliability-path requesting unit for sending the source node apparatus the calculated routes for the working path and for the backup path along with an establishment request for establishing the working path;

a backup-path-establishment receiving unit for receiving from the source node apparatus the route for the backup path switched over from the working path by the source node apparatus when a failure occurs in the core network; and

a path-information updating unit for updating the path information based on the route for the backup path switched over from the working path by the source node apparatus.

4. The server as claimed in claim 3, further comprising:

a resource management unit for managing the path information including a route for a reservation path established between the boundary node apparatuses at a reservation time that is preset, a status of the reservation path indicating either “

reserved”

or “

established”

, and the reservation time,

wherein

the high-reliability-path requesting unit sends the route and the reservation time for the reservation path that are managed by the resource management unit to the source node apparatus.

11. A route switching system comprising the server as claimed in claim 3 and a boundary node apparatus, in response to an establishment request for establishing a working path sent from a server, for establishing a working path with another boundary node apparatus, each of which is located on a boundary between a service network including a user node apparatus and a core network that accommodates the service network;

the boundary node apparatus comprising;

a working-path establishing unit, in response to the establishment request for establishing the working path, for establishing the working path calculated by the server between the boundary node apparatus and another boundary node apparatus via relay node apparatuses that relay the core network;

a failure detecting unit for detecting a failure in the core network while the working path is being established;

a backup-path establishing unit for establishing the backup path between the boundary node apparatus and the another boundary node apparatus, based on a route for the backup path switched over from the working path received from the server when the failure detecting unit detects a failure in the core network;

a path switching unit for switching over the working path to the backup path established; and

a backup-path-establishment sending unit for sending the server the route for the backup path switched over from the working path.

12. A route switching system comprising the server as claimed in claim 3 and a boundary node apparatus for establishing, in response to an establishment request for establishing a working path sent from a server, for establishing a working path with another boundary node apparatus, each of which is located on a boundary between a service network including a user node apparatus and a core network that accommodates the service network;

the boundary node apparatus comprising;

a working-path establishing unit, in response to the establishment request for establishing the working path, for establishing the working path calculated by the server between the boundary node apparatus and another boundary node apparatus via relay node apparatuses that relay the core network;

a failure detecting unit for detecting a failure in the core network while the working path is being established;

a backup path confirmation unit for sending a confirmation request for confirming the backup path switched over from the working path by the server when the failure detecting unit detects a failure in the core network;

a backup-path establishing unit for establishing the backup path between the boundary node apparatuses via the relay node apparatus based on the route for the backup path received from the server;

a path switching unit for switching over the working path to the backup path established; and

a backup-path-establishment sending unit for sending the server the route for the backup path switched over from the working path.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions for controlling a computer to function as each unit constituting the server as claimed in claim 3.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions for controlling a computer to function as each unit constituting the server as claimed in claim 4.

5. A server coupled with a core network that accommodates service networks including user node apparatuses, the server for storing path information that includes, in every time frame, a route for a working path and a route for a backup path, both of the working path and the backup path established between two boundary node apparatuses, for a source node and a destination node, each of which is located on a boundary between the service network and the core network, and calculating a route for the working path and a route for the backup path to be switched over from the working path when a failure occurs in the core network,

the server comprising:

a connection-request receiving unit for receiving from one of the user node apparatuses a connection request for connecting to the core network;

a route calculating unit, in response to the connection request, for calculating a route for the working path based on the path information;

a backup path-route calculating unit for calculating a route for the backup path in response to a confirmation request for confirming the backup path sent from the source node apparatus when a failure is detected in the core network;

a high-reliability-path requesting unit for sending the source node apparatus the calculated routes for the working path and the backup path along with an establishment request for establishing the working path;

a backup-path-establishment receiving unit for receiving from the source node apparatus the route for the backup path switched over from the working path by the source node apparatus when a failure occurs in the core network; and

a path-information updating unit for updating the path information based on the route for the backup path switched over from the working path by the source node apparatus.

6. The server as claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

a resource management unit for managing the path information including a route for a reservation path established between the boundary node apparatuses at a reservation time that is preset, a status of the reservation path indicating either “

reserved”

or “

established”

, and the reservation time,

wherein

the high-reliability-path requesting unit sends the route and the reservation time for the reservation path that are managed by the resource management unit to the node apparatus.

13. A route switching system comprising the server as claimed in claim 5 and a boundary node apparatus, in response to an establishment request for establishing a working path sent from a server, for establishing a working path with another boundary node apparatus, each of which is located on a boundary between a service network including a user node apparatus and a core network that accommodates the service network;

the boundary node apparatus comprising;

a working-path establishing unit, in response to the establishment request for establishing the working path, for establishing the working path calculated by the server between the boundary node apparatus and another boundary node apparatus via relay node apparatuses that relay the core network;

a failure detecting unit for detecting a failure in the core network while the working path is being established;

a backup-path establishing unit for establishing the backup path between the boundary node apparatus and the another boundary node apparatus, based on a route for the backup path switched over from the working path received from the server when the failure detecting unit detects a failure in the core network;

a path switching unit for switching over the working path to the backup path established; and

a backup-path-establishment sending unit for sending the server the route for the backup path switched over from the working path.

14. A route switching system comprising the server as claimed in claim 5 and a boundary node apparatus, in response to an establishment request for establishing a working path sent from a server, for establishing a working path with another boundary node apparatus, each of which is located on a boundary between a service network including a user node apparatus and a core network that accommodates the service network;

the boundary node apparatus comprising;

a working-path establishing unit, in response to the establishment request for establishing the working path, for establishing the working path calculated by the server between the boundary node apparatus and another boundary node apparatus via relay node apparatuses that relay the core network;

a failure detecting unit for detecting a failure in the core network while the working path is being established;

a backup path confirmation unit for sending a confirmation request for confirming the backup path switched over from the working path by the server when the failure detecting unit detects a failure in the core network;

a backup-path establishing unit for establishing the backup path between the boundary node apparatuses via the relay node apparatus based on the route for the backup path received from the server;

a path switching unit for switching over the working path to the backup path established; and

a backup-path-establishment sending unit for sending the server the route for the backup path switched over from the working path.

16. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer instructions for controlling a computer to function as each unit constituting the server as claimed in claim 5.

7. A boundary node apparatus, in response to an establishment request for establishing a working path sent from a server, for establishing a working path with another boundary node apparatus, each of which is located on a boundary between a service network including a user node apparatus and a core network that accommodates the service network;

the boundary node apparatus comprising;

a working-path establishing unit, in response to the establishment request for establishing the working path, for establishing the working path calculated by the server between the boundary node apparatus and another boundary node apparatus via relay node apparatuses that relay the core network;

a failure detecting unit for detecting a failure in the core network while the working path is being established;

a backup-path establishing unit for establishing the backup path between the boundary node apparatus and the another boundary node apparatus, based on a route for the backup path switched over from the working path received from the server when the failure detecting unit detects a failure in the core network;

a path switching unit for switching over the working path to the backup path established; and

a backup-path-establishment sending unit for sending the server the route for the backup path switched over from the working path.

8. The boundary node apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein

the boundary node apparatus receives from the server a route for a reservation path to be established with the another boundary node apparatus at a reservation time, and

the working path establishing unit establishes the reservation path between the boundary node apparatus and the another boundary node apparatus.

9. A boundary node apparatus, in response to an establishment request for establishing a working path sent from a server, for establishing a working path with another boundary node apparatus, each of which is located on a boundary between a service network including a user node apparatus and a core network that accommodates the service network;

the boundary node apparatus comprising;

a working-path establishing unit, in response to the establishment request for establishing the working path, for establishing the working path calculated by the server between the boundary node apparatus and another boundary node apparatus via relay node apparatuses that relay the core network;

a failure detecting unit for detecting a failure in the core network while the working path is being established;

a backup path confirmation unit for sending a confirmation request for confirming the backup path switched over from the working path by the server when the failure detecting unit detects a failure in the core network;

a backup-path establishing unit for establishing the backup path between the boundary node apparatuses via the relay node apparatus based on the route for the backup path received from the server;

a path switching unit for switching over the working path to the backup path established; and

a backup-path-establishment sending unit for sending the server the route for the backup path switched over from the working path.

10. The boundary node apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein

the boundary node apparatus receives from the server a route for a reservation path to be established with the another boundary node apparatus at a reservation time, and

the working path establishing unit establishes the reservation path between the boundary node apparatus and the another boundary node apparatus.