Abstract: Each node of a telecommunications network determines a connection type attributes available for each signal type supported by the node. Each signal type represents a different connection routing layer within the telecommunications network. Adaptation costs involved in traversing from one connection routing layer to another connection routing layer in the node are calculated. The connection type attributes and adaptation costs are included in a link state advertisement broadcasted by each node in the telecommunications network. A route calculation is performed for a desired signal to determine a route through the telecommunications network for the signal. The route calculation takes into account the various connection type attributes, availability, and adaptation costs in determining the shortest route for the signal through the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A network comprising a switch configured to switch traffic between a plurality of external interfaces via a plurality of virtual interfaces associated with the external interfaces, wherein the traffic comprises a plurality of external virtual local area network (VLAN) identifiers (VIDs) associated with the external interfaces to select the virtual interfaces, and wherein the virtual interfaces are configured to forward traffic based on an internal VID that is assigned to the traffic independent of the external VID. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a frame from a physical port, obtaining an external VID from a VLAN tag in the frame, removing the VLAN tag from the frame, selecting a virtual interface based on the external VID, and delivering the frame to the selected virtual interface.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising transparently snooping a path control message comprising a first path identifier, wherein the path control message is sent between a plurality of routers and is not intended for the network component, analyzing a plurality of frames each comprising a second path identifier, and diverting at least some of the frames away from at least one of the routers, wherein the second path identifier in the diverted frames matches the first path identifier. Included is a method comprising configuring a bypass path by snooping a control frame comprising a label switched path (LSP) identifier, and routing a plurality of data frames associated with the LSP identifier to the bypass path without routing any subsequent control frames associated with the LSP identifier to the bypass path.

Abstract: A network comprising a first layer processor (LP) configured to distribute a plurality of component communications to a plurality of component connections using a distribution table comprising a plurality of component communication identifiers (CCIDs) and the component connection associated with each CCID, a second LP configured to collect the packets from the component connections, and a composite connection coupled to the first LP and the second LP, wherein the composite connection comprises a plurality of the component connections and is configured to transport the component communications using the component connections, and wherein the distribution table and composite connection are configured such that component communications associated with at least the same CCID of a component communication takes the same path from the first LP to the second LP as from the second LP to the first LP.

Abstract: A network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a message comprising a node's data value from the node, determining whether a local data value has been assigned, and adopting the node's data value as the local data value when the local data value has not been assigned. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a plurality of ports each configured to couple to a node via a link, a memory configured to store a port data value associated with at least some of the ports, and a processor coupled to the memory and the ports, wherein the processor is configured to access a node's data value in a message and adopt the node's data value as the port data value.

Abstract: A network comprising an ingress layer processor (LP) coupled to a connection carrying a composite communication comprising a plurality of component communications, a composite connection coupled to the ingress LP and comprising a plurality of parallel component connections, wherein the composite connection is configured to transport the component communications using the component connections, and an egress LP coupled to the composite connection and configured to transmit the composite communication at a connection point. Also disclosed is a network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a connection carrying a plurality of component communications, reading a communication distinguishing fixed point (CDFP) from at least some of the component communications, and accessing a table associating at least some of the CDFPs with at least one component connection.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for verifying connectivity between monitoring points (MPs) within a network. The method comprises assigning, to each monitoring point, a unique MP ID and a unique sender MP ID and a unique receiver MP ID. Each sender MP ID uniquely identifying a sender MP from which a corresponding MP will receive valid monitoring messages. Each receiver MP ID uniquely identifying a receiver MP to which the corresponding MP transmits a valid monitoring message. The method further includes transmitting the monitoring messages MP ID in a unidirectional monitor cycle through the MPs, where each monitoring message includes a sender MP ID and a receiver MP ID. The method determines connectivity at each MP based on the sender and receiver MP IDs in a monitoring message received at the MP. Optionally, the method and system may report, from a monitoring point, a loss of connectivity when no valid monitoring message is received at the monitoring point for a predetermined number of monitor intervals.

Abstract: A network comprising a plurality of trees each comprising at least one ingress leaf node, at least one interior node, and at least one egress leaf node, wherein at least some of the ingress leaf nodes and the egress leaf nodes are common to the trees, and wherein the ingress leaf node is configured to transport data to the egress leaf node using any of the trees is disclosed. Also disclosed is a network component comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising selecting one of a plurality of trees associated with information contained within a frame, directing the frame to the selected tree, and maintaining a filtering database (FDB) entry in an interior node in the unselected tree or trees.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a processor configured to implement a method comprising receiving a first data structure comprising a first virtual local area network identifier (VID) and a first forwarding type, comparing the first VID and a first forwarding type with a second VID and a second forwarding type in a second data structure, and reporting a misprovisioned data structure if the first VID is the same as the second VID and the first forwarding type is not the same as the second forwarding type. Also disclosed is a method comprising implementing a network protocol to forward provisioning information in a plurality of VID Tables corresponding to a plurality of nodes, and analyzing the provisioning information to detect misprovisioned nodes.

Abstract: A communications network, comprising a plurality of nodes supporting connection-oriented traffic and connectionless traffic, wherein management traffic between the nodes is propagated as connectionless traffic having a unique management traffic Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifier (VID), and wherein at least one node is configured to perform a Link Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP) exchange operation to enable detection of inconsistent provisioning of the Management VID in at least one node. Also disclosed is a communications network component, comprising logic that enables connection-oriented traffic and VLAN-based connectionless traffic, wherein the logic propagates management messages as VLAN-based connectionless traffic having a management VID, and wherein the logic enables detection of inconsistent management VIDs in a network.

Abstract: A communications network comprising a plurality of nodes supporting connection-oriented traffic and connectionless traffic, wherein management traffic between the nodes is propagated as connectionless traffic having a common management identifier. Also disclosed is a communications network component comprising logic that supports connection-oriented traffic and Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN)-based connectionless traffic, wherein the logic propagates management messages as VLAN-based connectionless traffic having a unique VLAN identifier (VID). Included is a communications network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method comprising provisioning a unique VID for management messages, and selectively propagating management messages with the unique VID.

Abstract: A communications network comprises a first node and a second node. The communications network further comprises an unpaired switched-path between the first and second nodes. Connectivity of the unpaired switched-path is tested by the first node transmitting a probe message along the unpaired switched-path and waiting to receive a probe message response as connectionless traffic from the second node. Also disclosed is a communications network component comprising logic that selectively verifies connectivity of a unidirectional communication path based on a probe message transmitted as connection-oriented traffic along the unidirectional communication path and a time limit in which to receive a probe message response as connectionless traffic. Also disclosed is a communications network component comprising at least one processor configured to implement a method.

Abstract: A method for managing transport node capability information includes discovering a link end of a local transport node, modelling the local transport node's capability information as a first set of information structures, discovering a neighbour transport node, establishing a control adjacency link between control elements of the local transport node and neighbour transport node, modelling the neighbour transport node's capability information as a second set of information structures, exchanging the first and second sets of information structures between the control elements and identifying potential network layer links between the local and neighbour transport nodes, based on correlations in the first and second sets of information structures.

Abstract: An example embodiment of the present invention is a method of managing network communications layers on a network. The example embodiment (i) selects nodes in a network normally configured with server layer resources (e.g., SONET/SDH) to support client communications on a communications path between source nodes and destination nodes and (ii) instantiates client layer resources (e.g., Ethernet or IP) to support communications at branch nodes among the selected nodes at which communications paths from a common source node split to take different paths toward different destination nodes or at which communications paths toward a common destination node merge from different source nodes. Dynamic configuration of client layer resources is thus provided, and the given node may operate in an autonomous manner, instantiating client layer resources on an as needed basis.

Abstract: Each node of a telecommunications network determines a connection type attributes available for each signal type supported by the node. Each signal type represents a different connection routing layer within the telecommunications network. Adaptation costs involved in traversing from one connection routing layer to another connection routing layer in the node are calculated. The connection type attributes and adaptation costs are included in a link state advertisement broadcasted by each node in the telecommunications network. A route calculation is performed for a desired signal to determine a route through the telecommunications network for the signal. The route calculation takes into account the various connection type attributes, availability, and adaptation costs in determining the shortest route for the signal through the telecommunications network.

Abstract: Each node of a telecommunications network determines a connection type attributes available for each signal type supported by the node. Each signal type represents a different connection routing layer within the telecommunications network. Adaptation costs involved in traversing from one connection routing layer to another connection routing layer in the node are calculated. The connection type attributes and adaptation costs are included in a link state advertisement broadcasted by each node in the telecommunications network. A route calculation is performed for a desired signal to determine a route through the telecommunications network for the signal. The route calculation takes into account the various connection type attributes, availability, and adaptation costs in determining the shortest route for the signal through the telecommunications network.