Alcatel Canada Inc.

Newbridge Networks Corporation

Alcatel Networks Corporation

Mark Tooker

Jonathan L Bosloy

Ron Veeneman

Robert Muller

Shawn P McAllister

John Burns

John C Burns

Mike Holloway

Wade Neville

Glenn Brauen

Tom Phillips

A method and system for identifying switched virtual channel (SVC) connections and soft permanent virtual circuits (SPVCs) which traverse randomly selected switches in a digital communications network are described. The network includes a network management system (NMS) for provisioning the soft permanent virtual circuits across the network from endpoint to endpoint. Two embodiments are described. In the first, information respecting the cross connect route of the SPVC is provided to and retained by the NMS for subsequent retrieval. In the second, the NMS assigns an identifier or tag to the SPVC at the time the request to establish the circuit is issued. This tag is propagated through the network core switches as the SPVC is established and forms part of the information package stored at each switch. The SPVC tag is supplied to the NMS in response to an inquiry as to identity of the SPVC crossing any randomly selected core switch.

Identifying soft permanent virtual circuits

There is provided a method and apparatus for establishing a connection across a connection oriented network to enable communication between an originating network element and a destination network node. The originating network element is connected to source network node in the connection oriented network by a source communications channel which is addressable in the connection oriented network. The connection oriented network has a signalling infrastructure employing a network signalling protocol for establishing connections within the connection oriented network. A connection establishment request message is generated for requesting the establishment of the connection between the originating network element and the destination network node and includes information identifying the source and destination communications channels. A proxy connection establishment request message is sent from a network controlling element to the connection oriented network over a proxy signalling link provided therebetween. The proxy connection establishment request message is received at the connection oriented network and the channel identifying information is extracted from the proxy connection establishment request message. A network connection establishment request message according to the network signalling protocol is then generated and sent over the signalling infrastructure to establish a path between the source network node and the destination network node. The path is connected to the communications channel identified in the proxy connection establishment request message, thereby establishing the connection between the originating network element and the destination network node.

Method and apparatus for proxied signalling of an end to end connection across a connection oriented network

A virtual circuit whose path across a network is specified by a human operator (hereinafter operator directed route or ODR VC) is established by manually provisioning a preferred path for the connection, including a source node, destination node, and intermediate nodes or subnetworks therebetween. The source node creates a call setup message which is signalled along the preferred path, whereby the intermediate nodes along the preferred path establish the bearer channel cross-connects. The operator also specifies a re-muting scheme for the ODR VC in the event the preferred path is blocked or a link subsequently fails. The re-routing scheme includes one of (a) the preferred path only; (b) at least one manually provisioned alternate path; and (c) any available path. The ODR VC provides the benefit of a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) in terms of the ability to consciously route a connection with the benefit of a soft permanent virtual circuit (SPVC) or switched virtual circuit (SVC) in terms of the capability to efficiently re-route connections by the network as opposed to a central management authority.

Operator directed routing of connections in a digital communications network

A network management protocol for the efficient retrieval of items of information or objects from managed elements or other network management systems in a digital communications network is described. The new protocol introduces one or more qualifier bits appended to an information retrieval command wherein the qualifier bit specifies the subclasses of the objects requested.

Network management protocol for efficient retrieval operations

A semi-permanent virtual path circuit (SPVPC) is used in a dedicated-connection switching digital network for routing and maintaining data flow between network edge nodes. A two level connection admission control and signaling regime is employed wherein the semi-permanent virtual path circuit is automatically provisioned by a network management system to level two signaling and connection admission control and the physical link between pairs of core nodes is provisioned with level one resources. Under this scheme the physical link between core nodes is limited to virtual path circuits and the SPVPC carries switched virtual channel circuits (SVCCs) and semi-permanent virtual channel circuits (SPVCCs). The level two resources are configured to react slower to network changes, such as network failure, than the level one resources. In the event of network failure the faster acting level one signaling resources attempt to re-route VPC connections between core nodes before the slower level two resources becomes aware of the failure.

Semi-permanent virtual paths for carrying virtual channels

A data transmission network includes a plurality of data processing devices for connection to local data sources. The data processing devices assemble data packets from the local sources into frame relay packets. A plurality of interconnected network nodes are connected to the data processing devices. Point-to-point frame relay links (FRLs) are established between nodes of the network. Frame relay switches installed at the nodes for switch frame relay packets between successive frame relay links through the network. Frame relay paths (FRPs) are established between endpoints of the network using a plurality of successive established frame relay links.

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Kanata, Canada

Mark Tooker