Name resolution protocol, system and method for resolving a flat name space to an address space

Abstract

Networks, network elements and methods providing a name resolution protocol which performs name resolution from a flat name space, such as the TL1 name space, to an address space, such as the IP address space are provided. Request functionality involves processing a requested name by determining if the requested name is the local name or a name of a previously resolved name-to-address mapping, and if not by sending a request message to a group of network elements which have joined the group, the request message containing the requested name for which a corresponding address is required. The group of addresses might for example be a multicast group of IP addresses. The reporting functionality involves responding to requests generated as outlined above and consists of joining a group of addresses, and processing the request message containing a requested name for which a corresponding address is required by comparing the requested name with the local name, and if there is a match, to reply with a response message specifying the local address. In embodiments employing the IP address space, the network elements have a stack interface between IP packets and physical layer frames which might for example be SONET frames. The stack interface might for example be adapted to insert the IP packets in a channel defined by predetermined byte locations in the physical layer frames. In the event the physical layer frames are SONET frames, such predetermined byte locations might for example be SONET D to D overhead bytes.