Abstract: A system and method for in-service migration for a Virtual Local Area Network, VLAN, service if a Provider Bridge Metro Ethernet Network, PB MEN, is upgraded to a Provider Backbone Bridge, PBB, MEN or an Internet Protocol/Multi Protocol Label Switching, IP/MPLS, MEN. After the deployment of the new PBB or IP/MPLS technology, a sequence of management actions are performed to configure PBB or IP/MPLS edge nodes to use the new technology as well as the old PB-based technology to support the VLAN service. Both old and new connectivity structures are maintained in the edge nodes during the entire migration process. Customer traffic is then redirected per edge node to the new technology. When each edge node entirely provides the VLAN service under the new technology, the migration is complete.

Abstract: There is disclosed a manner of managing the active topology, that is the scheme for forwarding data, in a computer network such as an Ethernet local area network. A root bridge is selected from a plurality of bridges in the network; the root bridge calculating at least one spanning tree from a topology database that has been populated by bridge neighbor information gleaned from link state advertising messages. The root bridge may also calculate an alternate topology for implementation in the event a failure condition that affects the primary spanning tree is detected. The root bridge then advertises the spanning tree and remotely configures the port states of the bridges in the spanning tree through tree advertising messages that the bridges are arranged to process and set their ports accordingly.

Abstract: A system and a method are described herein which provide for congestion handling in a packet switched network domain. In case of congestion, overload is measured by a core node, the data packets in proportion to the overload are marked and the signaled overload is stored. At least one egress node receives marked and not marked packets, decodes and counts the overload from the marked packets in a counting interval. Congestion report messages are sent to ingress nodes where flows are terminated.

Abstract: A method and network are described herein for provisioning Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) entities for a connection when setting-up the connection between an ingress edge node and an egress edge node.

Abstract: A method is provided for use at a first node of a network. The first node (B) has an input path for receiving Ethernet frames destined for a second node of the network. The first node (B) also has a first output (working) path for forwarding the received Ethernet frames towards the second node. A failure along the first output (working) path is detected at the first node. Following such failure detection, the received Ethernet frames are caused, at the first node, to be re-routed along a second output (backup) path, different to the first output (working) path, towards the second node. The re-routing is performed by using (e.g. referring to and/or changing) respective indications (VLAN1) applied to the Ethernet frames to distinguish those Ethernet frames to be forwarded along the first output (working) path from those Ethernet frames to be forwarded along the second output (backup) path.

Abstract: A method to facilitate the broadcast of frames between a set of Edge Nodes of a transport network, where nodes of the transport network forward frames using labels added to the frames at ingress Edge Nodes. The method comprises, at each of said Edge nodes and at intermediate nodes in the paths between said Edge Nodes, installing an entry or entries into a forwarding table mapping frame labels to output forwarding ports such that said entries together form a single forwarding construct such that frames labelled by any of the Edge Nodes of said set are transmitted to all other Edge Nodes of the same set. Upon receipt of a frame at one of said Edge Nodes or intermediate nodes, the provided forwarding table is used to map the frame label of the frame to one or more forwarding ports. Frames are then sent via the identified forwarding port(s).

Abstract: A network arranged to implement label switched paths, comprising: an ingress label edge router (LER), at least one label switching router (LSR), and an egress LER, in which the ingress LER is connected to the egress LER via one or more of the LSRs. In said network the ingress LER is arranged to transmit, in use, a path message for setting up a bidirectional label switched path (LSP) from the ingress LER to the egress LER via at least one LSR in response for a request for such an LSP. The path message is transmitted over the path of the LSP to be created, in which the path message comprises a first parameter indicative of the bandwidth to be assigned to data traversing the LSP in a first, downstream, direction from ingress LER to egress LER and a second parameter indicative of the bandwidth to be assigned to data traversing the LSP in an opposite, upstream, direction, in which the upstream and downstream bandwidths are different.

Abstract: A method and ingress node for configuring intermediate OAM monitoring entities to monitor the quality of segments of a communication connection between an ingress node and an egress node. The ingress node constructs an object that includes technology-independent OAM parameters, identities of the OAM monitoring entities to be configured, and technology-specific attributes, wherein the technology-independent OAM parameters define an OAM type and desired monitoring actions by each of the identified OAM monitoring entities, and the technology-specific attributes define descriptors for configuring the 0AM monitoring entities in accordance with a communication protocol utilized for the connection. The ingress node utilizes Generalized Mu Its- Protocol Label Switching, GMPLS, signaling to send the object to the OAM monitoring entities.

Abstract: To achieve sophisticated adaptation mechanisms in a packet switched communication environment for service delivery, there is generated descriptor information on an application level. The descriptor information describes media stream control options and is provided to the packet switched communication environment prior to media streaming. Also, there is provided a method of controlling media streaming in a network apparatus operated in the communication environment using the descriptor information.

Abstract: There is disclosed a manner of managing the active topology, that is the scheme for forwarding data, in a computer network such as an Ethernet local area network. A root bridge is selected from a plurality of bridges in the network; the root bridge calculating at least one spanning tree from a topology database that has been populated by bridge neighbor information gleaned from link state advertising messages. The root bridge may also calculate an alternate topology for implementation in the event a failure condition that affects the primary spanning tree is detected. The root bridge then advertises the spanning tree and remotely configures the port states of the bridges in the spanning tree through tree advertising messages that the bridges are arranged to process and set their ports accordingly.

Abstract: A method and network are described herein for provisioning Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) entities for a connection when setting-up the connection between an ingress edge node and an egress edge node.

Abstract: There is disclosed a manner of managing the active topology, that is the scheme for forwarding data, in a computer network such as an Ethernet local area network. A root bridge is selected from a plurality of bridges in the network; the root bridge calculating at least one spanning tree from a topology database that has been populated by bridge neighbor information gleaned from link state advertising messages. The root bridge may also calculate an alternate topology for implementation in the event a failure condition that affects the primary spanning tree is detected. The root bridge then advertises the spanning tree and remotely configures the port states of the bridges in the spanning tree through tree advertising messages that the bridges are arranged to process and set their ports accordingly.

Abstract: A method and network are described herein for provisioning Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) entities for a connection when setting-up the connection between an ingress edge node and an egress edge node.

Abstract: A mobile communications network has separation between a user plane (UP) and a control plane (CP). The network includes plural entities, including plural user plane entities (UPEs), which form the user plane and plural mobility management entities (MMEs), which form the control plane. At least one of the entities is configured to transmit advertisement information. The advertisement information includes status information and configuration information of the at least one entity. The network also includes a node or unit configured to use both the advertisement information and transport information transported on the user plane to select a user plane entity for attachment to a wireless station serviced by the network.

Abstract: Reducing congestion in an IP domain wherein congested data flows arriving at an egress edge node of the network are identified. Total congestion represented by the congested flows is determined, and a congestion extent notification is sent from the egress edge node to its ingress edge node peer. The congestion extent notification includes information regarding the total congestion and is sent on a per-class basis. Congested core routers in the network insert DSCPs into data packets passing through them to enable the egress edge nodes to identify the affected flows. The core routers may also send congestion metric messages, designed to follow the same path as the marked packets, to inform the egress edge nodes of the extent of congestion. In an alternative method, the egress edge nodes inform their ingress peers that congestion is present, without initially identifying the extent. The ingress edge node sends a query downstream with a congestion metric.

Abstract: A method to facilitate the broadcast of frames between a set of Edge Nodes of a transport network, where nodes of the transport network forward frames using labels added to the frames at ingress Edge Nodes. The method comprises, at each of said Edge nodes and at intermediate nodes in the paths between said Edge Nodes, installing an entry or entries into a forwarding table mapping frame labels to output forwarding ports such that said entries together form a single forwarding construct such that frames labelled by any of the Edge Nodes of said set are transmitted to all other Edge Nodes of the same set. Upon receipt of a frame at one of said Edge Nodes or intermediate nodes, the provided forwarding table is used to map the frame label of the frame to one or more forwarding ports. Frames are then sent via the identified forwarding port(s).

Abstract: A bridge and method are described herein that translate at least a portion of a port VID (VLAN identifier) for an incoming tagged frame to form a relay VID for a corresponding relay tagged frame by using a VID mask table, a VID filter table, and a VID rule table. In an additional embodiment, the bridge and method also implement a port VLAN membership technique to ensure that an ingress port associated with the port VID is a member of the current VLAN.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that operates two bridging protocols in a hybrid bridging node is described. The operation of the two bridging protocols in the hybrid node allows for an incremental transition of a provider bridging network from operating a legacy bridging protocol that shares MAC addresses to a bridging network that operates VPLS and/or PBB bridging protocols. The hybrid bridging node selectively broadcasts unicast packets with unknown MAC addresses from the nodes operating VPLS and/or PBB to nodes operating a legacy bridging protocol.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that operates two bridging protocols in a hybrid bridging node is described. The operation of the two bridging protocols in the hybrid node allows for an incremental transition of a provider bridging network from operating a legacy bridging protocol that shares MAC addresses to a bridging network that operates VPLS and/or PBB bridging protocols. The hybrid bridging node selectively broadcasts address resolution packets and unicast packets with unknown MAC addresses from the nodes operating VPLS and/or PBB to nodes operating a legacy bridging protocol.

Abstract: A registration protocol for setting up and updating a tree that defines the active topology in an Ethernet network includes a plurality of application components and a plurality of attribute declaration components corresponding to the application components, wherein the application components declare and register attribute values and the corresponding attribute declaration components make and withdraw registration of the attributes.