Ciena Corporation

Nortel Networks Corporation

Ciena Luxembourg S.a.r.l.

Jean-Pierre Coupal

Darek Robert Skalecki

Stephen Daniel Shew

Evert De Boer

Richard Trudel

Evert Deboer

Stephanie Gagnon

Mark Gibbon

Darek Skalecki

Stephen Shew

A method and system for changing the extent of data plane resources controlled by a control plane for a network connection which spans a contiguous set of nodes controlled by existing network control resources is disclosed. This is done in a non-disruptive manner. This typically involves two steps: i) Creating a new set of control plane resources for said network connection such that said data plane resources are shared with said existing network control resources; and ii) then terminating the existing network control resources such that said data plane resources are fully transferred to the new set of control plane resources without disrupting said network connection. The existing network control resources can be either a control plane resource or a non control plane resource. An example of a non control plane resource is network management software (e.g., an OSS (Operation Support System)), which forms part of the Management Plane. It should be noted that this does not need to be done for a complete end-to-end connection, but rather can be executed for the portion of the end-to-end connection which is to be controlled by the control plane.

Method and apparatus for non-disruptive call modification

A call setup and restoration schema is disclosed for providing an improved priority-based call setup and restoration schema in an optical communications system, allowing higher priority connections access to bandwidth by user-definable parameters. The call setup and restoration schema includes allowing higher priority connections to claim the resources of lower priority connections, and restoring them when bandwidth is available, or bumping another, even lower priority, connections. This aids in providing access to bandwidth by high priority services and in preventing outages or connection delays for high priority connections.

Method and apparatus for priority call setup and restoration in an optical communications system

Commands are shown and described that enable a user to manipulate a call connection for the purpose of maintaining links in a network. The Block command prevents new traffic from being added to an output port of a device in a connection. The Forced Restoration/Release of Forced Restoration command set may be used to service the working channel. The Lockout of Restoration/Release of Lockout commands provide an alternative method of servicing a working connection and preventing unnecessary generation of redundant connections in the network.

Controlled calls in a transmission network

Growing community of inventors

Gatineau, Canada

Jean-Pierre Coupal