Telecom Italia

Laura Serra

Andrea Allasia

Luigi Varetto

Marco Schiano

Roberto Rita

Luigi Giuseppe Varetto

Delivering multicast data traffic over a communication network includes a first network node delivering multicast data traffic to second network nodes. The first and second network nodes are connected by a transmission network in a ring architecture and implement a point-to-multipoint layer 2 protocol. A method includes at the first network node: collecting alarms signals indicative of a failure along the whole ring and of the second network nodes. Based on a current state of the alarm signals, delivering the multicast data traffic either in a first delivery direction along the ring, or in a second delivery direction along the ring opposite to the first delivery direction, or in both the first and second delivery directions. At each of the second network nodes: collecting alarm signals indicative of a failure of the transmission network locally to the second network node and of the second network node. Based on a current state of the local alarm signals either receiving the multicast data traffic delivered by the first network node from the first direction, forwarding the multicast data traffic in the first direction and transmitting local data traffic to the first network node along the second delivery direction, or receiving the data traffic delivered by the first network node from the second direction, forwarding the multicast data traffic in the second direction and transmitting the local data traffic to the first network node along the first delivery direction.

Protecting an ethernet network having a ring architecture

Extra traffic paths are provided in a communication network including at least two protection channels associated to respective transmission channels. Each protection channel admits an active state for carrying, in the presence of a failure in the associated transmission channel, traffic to be carried by the associated transmission channel, and a stand-by state, wherein the protection channel is adapted to carry extra traffic. The protection channels are run in a sub-network connection protection scheme, whereby one of the protection channels in its stand-by state is adapted to ensure recovery of extra traffic carried by the other protection channel while the other protection channel is switched to its active state or is subject to failure.

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Turin, Italy

Laura Serra