Cisco Technology, Inc.

Cicso Technology, Inc.

Michael F Davis

Carmel Chi Him Lau

Steven Harold Goody

David A Hillard

Xiao Pin Nie

Robert L Bortolotto

Daniel Scott Terhune

Thomas E Black, Jr

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for automatically provisioning data stitching circuits within a network element (NE). Data circuits are defined as the interface cards within NE that are receiving a particular data stream. Data stitching circuits are defined as data circuits that are provided with a destination point and a next destination point for each interface card. The NE creates a data-stitching matrix that identifies a path (i.e., destination and next destination) for the data stream to follow. The matrix is used by a cross-connect to reroute the data stream around one or more inoperable interface cards. When interface cards within the NE request to be provisioned into or out of a data stitching circuit the NE automatically updates the data-stitching matrix.

Method and apparatus for automatically provisioning data circuits

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for preventing a layer-2 forwarding loop from being created within a network element (NE). Specifically, the present invention is used to prevent a loop from being formed within a NE by multiple data stitches for the same data circuit. The loops are prevented from being formed within the NE by running spanning tree on all but one of the multiple data stitches for a data circuit. The spanning tree blocks each of the data stitches on which it is run and thus only one data stitch remains and no loop is formed.

Method and apparatus for preventing loops within a data stitching network element

The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for rerouting high-speed telecommunications signals within a network element (NE). Data circuits are defined as the interface cards within the NE that receive a particular data stream. In the event that one or more of the interface cards associated with a particular data circuit is removed, the NE can reroute the data stream so that the data circuit is maintained. The rerouting is accomplished by creating a stitching table, which defines the previous stitch and next stitch for each port on a cross-connect unit. Thus, when one stitch is lost, the table enables the apparatus to reroute the data stream around the lost stitch. That is, the data circuit is stitched together when one or more elements of the data circuit are removed.

Method and apparatus for rerouting telecommunications signals

Restricting the assignment of VLANs so that a unique VLAN or set of VLANs must be assigned to each link for a particular network circuit (NC) or group of NCs. NCs are prevented from being assignd a particular VLAN if the addition of the VLAN assignment will create a mix-match topology, which may either create a loop or prevent a loop from being able to be properly blocked without inadvertently blocking a link of another NC. Restriction of VLAN assignment allow a single conventional spanning tree to be run to ensure that there are no layerforwarding loops exist while at the same time not inadvertently blocking the path of another NC.

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Penngrove, CA, United States of America

Michael F Davis