Ciena Corporation

Worldwide Packets, Inc.

Alcatel USA Sourcing, L.p.

Jie Hu

Marc Holness

Asheesh Jadav

Cory Gordon

Madhavi Raghavendra Joshi

David Gilson

Somen Bhattacharya

Mradula Neginhal

Anthony Mazzurco

Joseph A Crossett, Iii

Raghuraman Ranganathan

Michael J Chartier

Darren William Oye

Andrew Patrick Schultz

Jennifer Anne Smith

Joseph Heath

Qing Yang

Padma Asrani

Systems and methods with dynamic Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) and Continuity Check Messages (CCMs) that enable dynamic configurations to avoid limitations associated with static reconfigurations. Variously, a network, a method, and a network element are configured to implement a dynamic CFM method for dynamic notifications and actions taken based thereon between Maintenance End Points (MEPs). The systems and methods may also include a CCM attribute adjustment method between two MEPs, a CCM suspension and/or resumption method between two MEPs, and a MEP auto-discovery and leaving method. Advantageously, the systems and methods may be utilized in a variety of contexts including controlled maintenance, in-service software upgrades, network congestion, discovery of new remote MEPs, and the like to enable dynamic configurations between MEPs. The systems and methods may also apply to Carrier Ethernet, Multiprotocol Label Switching-Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), and the like.

Systems and methods for dynamic operations, administration, and management

A packet network linear protection method, a network, and a node in a dual or multi-home configuration include designating each of a plurality of home nodes in the dual or multi-home configuration as a working home or a protect home; designating each link between each of the plurality of home nodes and an end node in the dual or multi-home configuration as active or standby; operating a protection switch state machine based on an associated linear protection protocol at each of the plurality of home nodes and the end node; communicating protection messages to each of the plurality of home nodes from the end node; and communicating protection states in an associated protection switch state machine by each of the plurality of home nodes to other home nodes and to the end node.

Packet network linear protection systems and methods in a dual home or multi-home configuration

The present disclosure provides reliable systems and methods for network notifications, i.e. Simple Network Management Protocol version 2 Protocol Data Unit (SNMPv2-Trap-PDU) messages, asynchronous notifications, InformRequest-PDU messages, and the like, between network elements, element managers, and other element managers. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention includes a network management system and method with a plurality of network elements operating a management agent communicatively coupled to an element manager which in turn is communicatively coupled to another element manager, a network management system (NMS), an operations support system (OSS), or the like. The present invention may utilize SNMPv2 and/or v3, and includes various techniques and processes ensuring reliable notifications between any of the network elements, element managers, or the like in the network management system.

Reliable systems and methods for network notifications

An Ethernet Tree (E-Tree) service is described instantiated on an Ethernet switch and in an Ethernet network. The E-Tree service is implemented using Private Forwarding Groups (PFGs), asymmetric Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), virtual switches, and port configurations. The use of PFGs in addition to asymmetric VLANs provides higher levels of security in the described E-Tree systems and methods. The E-Tree systems and methods also can utilize Access Control Lists (ACLs) at Network-Network Interfaces (NNIs) for controlling unknown unicasts from reaching wrong ports. The E-Tree systems and methods can also seamlessly interoperate with packet switches using an IEEE 802.1Q-2011 approach.

Systems and methods for constrained forwarding based packet network connectivity

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for scaling performance of Ethernet Ring Protection Protocol. Specifically, the systems and methods may apply to G.8032 and may provide protection switching control plane performance scaling benefits. In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention summarizes the per 'virtual' ring control plane protocol into a single logical ring control plane protocol. Advantageously, the present invention transforms the G.8032 protocol from a per-virtual ring protocol to a per-logical ring control protocol. The mechanism/methodology that is used is to include minimal per-virtual ring instance information in to the Ring Automated Protection Switching (R-APS) (control) frames. Additionally, the present invention cleanly decouples the placement of the R-APS (control) channel block location on the ring from that of the virtual channel data blocks. Current G.8032 specifications tightly couple the location of each R-APS (control) channel block and the virtual channel block that it is managing.

Systems and methods for scaling performance of Ethernet ring protection protocol

Packet switch operating methods and packet switches, using primary control circuitry of the packet switch, receive a request to perform a transaction. In response to the receiving the request, the primary control circuitry forwards the request to backup control circuitry of the packet switch. Subsequent to forwarding the request, the primary control circuitry performs the transaction by modifying a plurality of first data objects stored in a memory of the primary control circuitry. The packet switch operating methods and packet switches, using the primary control circuitry, inform the backup control circuitry that the primary control circuitry has performed the transaction and, in response to the informing, the backup control circuitry performs the transaction by modifying a plurality of second data objects stored in a memory of the backup control circuitry. The first data objects correspond to the second data objects.

Transaction-based coordination of data object modification for primary and backup control circuitry

Packet switch operating methods and packet switches, using first processing circuitry of the packet switch, specify a configuration for a control packet processing procedure implemented by different second processing circuitry of the packet switch, communicate the configuration to the second processing circuitry, and using the second processing circuitry, receive a control packet, examine contents of the control packet, and process the control packet according to the control packet processing procedure, the control packet processing procedure being configured according to the configuration.

Distributed control packet processing

Packet switch operating methods and packet switches, using first processing circuitry of the packet switch, configure different second processing circuitry of the packet switch to periodically transmit control packets to a destination device via a port of the packet switch and, subsequent to the configuring and using the second processing circuitry, transmit the control packets to the destination device via the port during moments in time when the first processing circuitry is non-operational. Other packet switch operating methods and packet switches, using first processing circuitry of the packet switch, specify a configuration for a control packet processing procedure implemented by different second processing circuitry of the packet switch, communicate the configuration to the second processing circuitry, and using the second processing circuitry, transmit control packets according to the control packet processing procedure, the control packet processing procedure being configured according to the configuration.

Distributed control packet transmission

An apparatus and a method for cross connect matrices includes originating, center and terminating stages in both a main portion and a back-up portion that allows center stages to be switched without causing a framing error. The signal from the main portion is transmitted through both the back-up and main portions of the cross connect matrices such that a terminating line card receives a frame aligned signal from the main and back portions. The terminating line card then switches its output to be the signal produced by the back-up portion with no framing error. In the main portion, the center stage may be switched. After the center stage is switched, the terminating line card can switch again to output the signal from the main portion.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

Jie Hu