Nortel Networks Corporation

Philip Christian

Christopher David Murton

Paul Fee

Chris Ramsden

Ewart Tempest

Terence Canning

Derek Gilmore

Allen Houston

The invention relates to a routing apparatus for routing data packets in a network comprising a sub-network, in particular a broadcast sub-network. The routing apparatus is included in a first network element of the sub-network, the first network element being arranged to support first and second protocol sets, for example OSI protocols and IP protocols. Upon designation of the first network element to represent the other network elements in the sub-network in respect of the first and second protocol sets, the routing apparatus is arranged to create a respective routing data packet for each protocol set and to cause the routing data packets to be propagated through the network. Upon resignation of the first network element as representative in respect of one of the protocol sets, the routing apparatus is arranged to cause the respective routing data packet for that protocol set only to be purged from the network.

Selective purging of routing data packets in a network

To provide a graphic user interface, supported by HTML or Java script, to a personal computer () for the control of SONET/SDH network elements (), an RS-232 port of a PC is used to establish a PPP session to a remote access server, RAS (). The network element () is therefore configured to imitate a modem, and to route PPP packets into its related management system across an optical ring (). The management system may include an intermediate network manager () and a DHCP server (). Once legitimacy of the PC is established through the IP session, the PC is provided with an IP address to invoke the PC's IP stack. Subsequently, IP is communicated across the PPP session, with the RAS () configured to terminate the PPP session and forward IP packets into an IP network (). IP packets (), received at a web server (), are converted into command line interface (CLI) messagesand are sent directly to the network manager () within an IP packet. The network manager () terminated the IP packet and re-packages the CLI messages into an optical carrier format () for relay to an addressed network element (). The addressed network element (), which is responsive to the CLI messages from a management perspective, then alters its set-up or functionality accordingly. Complex text-based CLI instructions are thus avoided by a field-based engineer through the use of a GUI supported by a PC having web-browser capabilities, with an typical architecture shown in FIG.

Optical communication network and method of remotely managing multiplexers

The present invention relates to data tunnelling and in one embodiment to the tunnelling of IP (Internet Protocol) data across an OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) network. In the preferred embodiment, network elements include both an OSI stack and an IP stack, and a respective directory of OSI addresses and corresponding IP subnets. Each network element generates a routing data packet, conveniently a Link State Packet (LSP), which includes the OSI address and IP subnet(s) associated with that network element. The LSPs are distributed across the network in normal manner. Upon receipt of an LSP from another network element, each network element updates its respective directory in respect of said other network element. Thus, each directory is automatically updated to reflect changes in the network, particularly in respect of IP subnets. This arrangement significantly reduces the need for manual tunnel configuration in the network. In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides dynamic data tunnelling of OSI data over an IP network.

Dynamic data tunnelling

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Bishops Stortford, United Kingdom

Philip Christian