Method and system for dynamic selection of transport path with lowest latency

• US 8,837,936 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2012
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Sarwar, Muhammad S., Putnins, Zigmunds Andis, Sarup, Jaya, Lu, Zanjun
• Primary Examiner(s): SINGH, DALZID E
• Application Number:
  US13/531,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20130343747A1
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 398/5, 398/33, 398/58, 398/47, 398/51, 398/53, 398/68, 398 70- 72, 398/25
• US Class Current: 398/25
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0852 Delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/121 by minimising delays
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/28 using route fault recovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/70 Routing based on monitoring results

Abstract

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present disclosure, a network element may include a network-side interface configured to communicatively couple to a network and a controller communicatively coupled to the network-side interface. The controller may be configured to periodically receive one or more messages indicative of a delay for each of a plurality of paths for a network flow between the network element and a second network element, periodically compare the delays for the plurality of paths, and select a path for a network flow from the plurality of paths based on the delays.

Claims

1. A network element comprising:

a network-side interface configured to communicatively couple to a network; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the network-side interface and configured to;

periodically receive one or more messages indicative of a delay for each of a plurality of paths for a network flow between the network element and a second network element, the one or more messages indicative of a delay for each particular path being received over that particular path;

periodically compare the delays for the plurality of paths; and

select a path for the network flow from the plurality of paths based on the delays.

2. The network element of claim 1, the controller further configured to:

determine if the selected path is different than a presently-used path; and

switch traffic for the network flow from the presently-used path to the selected path if the selected path is different than the presently-used path.

3. The network element of claim 1, wherein the one or more messages comprise a Service Operation, Administration, and Management Delay Measurement function.

4. The network element of claim 1, wherein the network flow comprises an Ethernet over synchronous optical network flow.

5. The network element of claim 1, wherein the network flow comprises an Ethernet over Optical Transport Network flow.

6. The network element of claim 1, wherein the selected path is a path with the shortest delay.

7. The network element of claim 1, the controller further configured to periodically determine for each of the plurality of paths a volume of traffic loss, wherein the selected path is based on the volume of traffic loss and the delay of each of the plurality of paths.

8. A network comprising:

a protected network;

a first network element communicatively coupled to the protected network; and

a second network element communicatively coupled to the first network element via the protected network via a plurality of paths of the protected network, the second network element configured to;

periodically receive one or more messages indicative of a delay for each of a plurality of paths for a network flow between the first network element and a second network element, the one or more messages indicative of a delay for each particular path being received over that particular path;

periodically compare the delays for the plurality of paths; and

select a path for the network flow from the plurality of paths based on the delays.

9. The network of claim 8, the second network element further configured to:

determine if the selected path is different than a presently-used path; and

switch traffic for the network flow from the presently-used path to the selected path, if the selected path is different than the presently-used path.

10. The network of claim 8, wherein the one or more messages comprise a Service Operation, Administration, and Management Delay Measurement function.

11. The network of claim 8, wherein the network flow comprises an Ethernet over synchronous optical network flow.

12. The network of claim 8, wherein the network flow comprises an Ethernet over Optical Transport Network flow.

13. The network of claim 8, wherein the selected path is a path with the shortest delay.

14. The network of claim 8, the second network element further configured to periodically determine for each of the plurality of paths a volume of traffic loss, wherein the selected path is based on the volume of traffic loss and the delay of each of the plurality of paths.

15. A method comprising:

periodically receiving one or more messages indicative of a delay for each of a plurality of paths for a network flow between a first network element and a second network element, the one or more messages indicative of a delay for each particular path being received over that particular path;

periodically comparing the delays for the plurality of paths; and

selecting a path for the network flow from the plurality of paths based on the delays.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

determining if the selected path is different than a presently-used path; and

switching traffic for the network flow from the presently-used path to the selected path if the selected path is different than the presently-used path.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or more messages comprise a Service Operation, Administration, and Management Delay Measurement function.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the network flow comprises one of an Ethernet over synchronous optical network flow and an Ethernet over Optical Transport Network flow.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected path is a path with the shortest delay.

20. The method of claim 15, further comprising periodically determining for each of the plurality of paths a volume of traffic loss, wherein the selected path is based on the volume of traffic loss and the delay of each of the plurality of paths.