System and method for provisioning connections as a distributed digital cross-connect over a packet network

• US 8,150,018 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clemm, L. Alexander, Famula, Dieter W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US10/323,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20040120318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,394 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/395.2, 370/401, 379/220.01
• US Class Current: 379/220.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5656 using the AAL2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5658 using the AAL5

Abstract

A method includes receiving a request to provision a path associated with at least a portion of a packet network and determining whether a router is associated with the path in the packet network. The method also includes provisioning a first connection between a first gateway and a second gateway when the router is not associated with the path. The method further includes provisioning a second connection between the first gateway and the router and a third connection between the router and the second gateway when the router is associated with the path. In addition, the method includes at least one of associating and disassociating a first endpoint of the first gateway and a second endpoint of the second gateway with one or more of the connections.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

detecting, at a network device, an addition of a first gateway to a packet network;

determining whether the first gateway comprises an access gateway or a core gateway;

if the first gateway comprises a core gateway;

establishing a first connection between the first gateway and a router; and

generating an object representing the first gateway; and

if the first gateway comprises an access gateway;

identifying a second gateway; and

establishing a second connection between the first gateway and the second gateway;

associating a first endpoint of the first gateway with one or more of the connections;

associating a second endpoint of the second gateway with one or more of the connections; and

associating the first and second endpoints with one or more of the connections by generating a channel identifier, the first gateway operable to map the channel identifier to a first Digital Signal level 0 (DS0) connection at the first gateway, and the second gateway operable to map the channel identifier to a second DS0 connection at the second gateway.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an identity of the second gateway from a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the connections comprise at least one of layer 2 permanent virtual circuits and layer 3 routes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the router comprises one of a router coupled to the second gateway and a router in the second gateway;

and

further comprising configuring the router with a route to a network address of the first gateway.

5. At least one tangible and non-transitory computer readable storage medium encoded with logic that is operable when executed to:

detect an addition of a first gateway to a packet network;

determine whether the first gateway comprises an access gateway or a core gateway;

if the first gateway comprises a core gateway;

establish a first connection between the first gateway and a router; and

generate an object representing the first gateway; and

if the first gateway comprises an access gateway;

identify a second gateway; and

establish a second connection between the first gateway and the second gateway;

associate a first endpoint of the first gateway with one or more of the connections;

associate a second endpoint of the second gateway with one or more of the connections; and

associate the first and second endpoints with one or more of the connections by generating a channel identifier, the first gateway operable to map the channel identifier to a first Digital Signal level 0 (DS0) connection at the first gateway, and the second gateway operable to map the channel identifier to a second DS0 connection at the second gateway.

6. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein the logic is further operable to identify the second gateway by receiving an identity of the second gateway from a user.

7. The computer readable storage medium of claim 5, wherein:

the router comprises one of a router coupled to the second gateway and a router in the second gateway; and

the logic is further operable to configure the router with a route to a network address of the first gateway.

8. A system, comprising:

one or more processors collectively operable to;

detect an addition of a first gateway to a packet network;

determine whether the first gateway comprises an access gateway or a core gateway;

if the first gateway comprises a core gateway;

establish a first connection between the first gateway and router; and

generate an object representing the first gateway; and

if the first gateway comprises an access gateway;

identify a second gateway; and

establish a second connection between the first gateway and the second gateway;

associate a first endpoint of the first gateway with one or more of the connections;

associate a second endpoint of the second gateway with one or more of the connections; and

associate the first and second endpoints with one or more of the connections by generating a channel identifier, the first gateway operable to map the channel identifier to a first Digital Signal level 0 (DS0) connection at the first gateway, and the second gateway operable to map the channel identifier to a second DS0 connection at the second gateway; and

a memory operable to store an object model, the object model identifying the first and the second gateways.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more processors are further collectively operable to identify the second gateway by receiving an identity of the second gateway from a user.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the router comprises one of a router coupled to the second gateway and a router in the second gateway; and

the one or more processors are further collectively operable to configure the router with a route to a network address of the first gateway.

11. A system, comprising:

a memory operable to store an object model, the object model identifying a plurality of gateways in a packet network; and

one or more processors collectively operable to;

detect an addition of a first gateway to a packet network;

establish a first connection between the first gateway and a router when the first gateway is of at least one gateway type;

identify a second gateway and establish a second connection between the first gateway and the second gateway when the first gateway is of at least one other gateway type;

receive a request to establish a path through at least a portion of the packet network;

determine whether the router is required by a type of virtual circuit used by the requested wireless communication service;

establish a third connection between the router and the second gateway when the router is required in the path;

associate a first endpoint of the first gateway with one or more of the connections;

associate a second endpoint of the second gateway with one or more of the connections; and

associate the first and second endpoints with one or more of the connections by generating a channel identifier, the first gateway operable to map the channel identifier to a first Digital Signal level 0 (DS0) connection at the first gateway, and the second gateway operable to map the channel identifier to a second DS0 connection at the second gateway.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are collectively operable to determine whether the router is required by identifying one of a plurality of connection types associated with the path, at least one of the connection types involving the router and at least one other of the connection types not involving the router.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are collectively operable to:

determine whether the first connection has been previously established; and

establish the first connection when the first connection has not been previously established.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are collectively operable to associate the first and second endpoints with one or more of the connections by generating one of a channel identifier or a Realtime Transfer Protocol (RTP) port value, the first gateway operable to map the channel identifier or RTP port value to the first Digital Signal level 0 (DS0) connection at the first gateway, and the second gateway operable to map the channel identifier or RTP port value to the second DS0 connection at the second gateway.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the router comprises one of a router card in the second gateway and an external router.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the object model also identifies one or more of the connections.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more processors are collectively operable to:

disable the one or more connections; and

tear down the one or more connections.