Abstract: Systems and methods of protection switching in a packet network based on signal/service degrade includes monitoring a packet network connection; determining performance of the packet network connection based on the monitoring; detecting the packet network connection has a signal/service degrade based on the determined performance, wherein the signal/service degrade is a condition where the packet network connection is operational, but the performance is experiencing a degradation; and, responsive to detection of the signal/service degrade, performing one or more of notifying nodes in the packet network and performing a protection switch at the packet layer based on the signal/service degrade. The performance can be a delay measurement. The delay measurement can be utilized to determine Frame Delay (FD), Frame Delay Range (FDR), and Inter-Frame Delay Variation (IFDV), and the degradation is when one or more of FD, FDR, and IFDV exceeds a threshold in a window.

Abstract: Digital signature systems and methods to represent network path trace information in a packet, implemented by a network element in a network include updating a digital signature based on a unique identifier of the network element, wherein the digital signature is carried in-band with the packet; and transmitting the packet by the network element with the updated digital signature, wherein the digital signature represents the network path trace information of the packet up to the network element. The digital signature is a key carried in-band with the packet, and the updating can include performing an exclusive OR function with a current key and a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) of a bit field with the unique identifier included therein to derive a new key which is inserted as the digital signature in the packet.

Abstract: System and methods of ingress packet metering include receiving a plurality of flows combined to form an envelope with a specific bandwidth, wherein the envelope is defined such that unused bandwidth from higher rank flows is usable by lower rank flows; admitting packets from the plurality of flows based on committed tokens and excess tokens; determining unused tokens in a time interval; and distributing the unused tokens based on configured weights of the plurality of flows within the envelope. The unused tokens can be provided from a lower rank flow to a higher rank flow. The unused tokens can be determined utilizing Two Rate Three Color Marker (trTCM) metering. The receiving can be at a User-Network Interface (UNI), a Network-Network Interface (NNI), or an External NNI (ENNI) port in a node.

Abstract: Systems and methods with dynamic Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) and Continuity Check Messages (CCMs) that enable dynamic configurations to avoid limitations associated with static reconfigurations. Variously, a network, a method, and a network element are configured to implement a dynamic CFM method for dynamic notifications and actions taken based thereon between Maintenance End Points (MEPs). The systems and methods may also include a CCM attribute adjustment method between two MEPs, a CCM suspension and/or resumption method between two MEPs, and a MEP auto-discovery and leaving method. Advantageously, the systems and methods may be utilized in a variety of contexts including controlled maintenance, in-service software upgrades, network congestion, discovery of new remote MEPs, and the like to enable dynamic configurations between MEPs. The systems and methods may also apply to Carrier Ethernet, Multiprotocol Label Switching-Transport Profile (MPLS-TP), and the like.

Abstract: A Virtual Network Function (VNF) executed on a processing device includes one or more first Terminal Access Point (TAP) interfaces which are virtual network kernel interfaces and which are each mapped to an associated second TAP interface associated with a Network Operating System (NOS), wherein the associated second TAP interface is mapped to an associated physical port; and a processor configured to receive, transmit, and process select frames via the one or more first TAP interfaces, wherein the VNF is in a sideline configuration of a service flow, only receiving and transmitting the select frames of the service flow.

Abstract: Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) scaling systems and methods are implemented by a network function performed by one of a physical network element and a virtual network element executed on one or more processors. The OAM scaling method includes providing N packet services, N is an integer; and, responsive to determined OAM session scaling limits, providing OAM sessions for the N packet services in an oversubscribed manner, wherein the determined OAM session scaling limits include M OAM sessions supported by the network function, M is an integer and less than N.

Abstract: Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) scaling systems and methods are implemented by a network function performed by one of a physical network element and a virtual network element executed on one or more processors. The OAM scaling method includes providing N packet services, N is an integer; and, responsive to determined OAM session scaling limits, providing OAM sessions for the N packet services in an oversubscribed manner, wherein the determined OAM session scaling limits include M OAM sessions supported by the network function, M is an integer and less than N.

Abstract: Systems and methods for ring protection switching in a network based on selectively blocking and unblocking a port include forwarding traffic via the port over a data channel that utilizes a first service identifier, wherein the data channel is routed in the network along a closed loop; and selectively blocking and unblocking traffic on the port to provide the ring protection switching over the closed loop, wherein the selectively blocking and unblocking is performed based on a management channel that utilizes a second service identifier that is a different type from the first service identifier.

Abstract: A network device includes a plurality of ports; a switch configured to switch data frames between the plurality of ports; and a processor configured to obtain one or more measurement values based on network traffic associated with the data frames, responsive to detection of a threshold-crossing event of a measurement value, wherein the threshold-crossing event is one of an indication and a precursor of one or more of an abnormal and unexpected event associated with the network traffic, cause collection of a plurality of time series of measurement values of the network traffic by one or more components in the network device, and send a combination of the plurality of time series as a telemetric data stream for analysis by a network management system related to the abnormal/unexpected event.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a network. The method includes generating a measurement value of network traffic processed by a component of a number of components of a network device. Based on the measurement value meeting a pre-determined criterion, a threshold-crossing event of the component is detected. In response to the threshold-crossing event, a number of time series of measurement values of the network traffic are generated. In particular, each time series is generated by one of the number of components. Accordingly, a combination of the number of time series is sent as a telemetric data stream by the network device to a network management system of the network.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a network includes generating a first receiving sequence number representing a first location within a first ordered sequence of a number of data packets as received by a receiving device, and extracting a first transmission sequence number representing a second location within a second ordered sequence of the number of data packets as transmitted by a transmitting device. The method further includes generating a second receiving sequence number representing a third location within the first ordered sequence of the number of data packets, extracting a second transmission sequence number representing a fourth location within the second ordered sequence of the number of data packets. The method further includes generating a measurement of network transmission based at least on the first receiving sequence number, the first transmission sequence number, the second receiving sequence number, and the second transmission sequence number.

Abstract: Systems and methods of protection switching in a packet network based on signal/service degrade includes monitoring a packet network connection; determining performance of the packet network connection based on the monitoring; detecting the packet network connection has a signal/service degrade based on the determined performance, wherein the signal/service degrade is a condition where the packet network connection is operational, but the performance is experiencing a degradation; and, responsive to detection of the signal/service degrade, performing one or more of notifying nodes in the packet network and performing a protection switch at the packet layer based on the signal/service degrade. The performance can be a delay measurement. The delay measurement can be utilized to determine Frame Delay (FD), Frame Delay Range (FDR), and Inter-Frame Delay Variation (IFDV), and the degradation is when one or more of FD, FDR, and IFDV exceeds a threshold in a window.

Abstract: A method for measuring frame loss on a connection between a near-device (NED) and a far-end device (FED). The method includes: placing, on the connection, multiple test frames having a plurality of sequence numbers; obtaining, from the connection, a first reflected test frame having a first sequence number, a first FED receiving counter value from the FED, and an initial FED received count from the FED; obtaining, from the connection, a second reflected test frame having a second sequence number, a second FED receiving counter value from the FED, and the initial FED received count from the FED; and calculating a one-way frame loss value on the connection based on the second sequence number and the initial FED received count.

Abstract: A method of protection switching in a packet network based on signal/service degrade includes monitoring a packet network connection; detecting the packet network connection has a signal/service degrade including a condition where the packet network connection is operational, but experiencing errors below a threshold; and responsive to detection of the signal/service degrade one or more of notifying nodes in the packet network and performing a protection switch based on the signal/service degrade. The signal/service degrade is detected through one or more of i) determining a Frame Error Rate imputed from one or more of Bit Error Rate, frame events, and frame losses; ii) frame delay measurements; and iii) a combination thereof.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a network includes generating a first receiving sequence number representing a first location within a first ordered sequence of a number of data packets as received by a receiving device, and extracting a first transmission sequence number representing a second location within a second ordered sequence of the number of data packets as transmitted by a transmitting device. The method further includes generating a second receiving sequence number representing a third location within the first ordered sequence of the number of data packets, extracting a second transmission sequence number representing a fourth location within the second ordered sequence of the number of data packets. The method further includes generating a measurement of network transmission based at least on the first receiving sequence number, the first transmission sequence number, the second receiving sequence number, and the second transmission sequence number.

Abstract: Systems and methods for L2 Ethernet resilient hand-off include an access network configured between a first end point and a second end point, a first communication path and a second communication path for data flow between the first end point and the second end point, wherein the first communication path is active and the second communication path is inactive, and if a fault is detected in the first communication path, logic configured to activate the second communication path and perform a resilient hand-off of the data flow from the first communication path to the second communication path.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a network. The method includes generating a measurement value of network traffic processed by a component of a number of components of a network device. Based on the measurement value meeting a pre-determined criterion, a threshold-crossing event of the component is detected. In response to the threshold-crossing event, a number of time series of measurement values of the network traffic are generated. In particular, each time series is generated by one of the number of components. Accordingly, a combination of the number of time series is sent as a telemetric data stream by the network device to a network management system of the network.

Abstract: Digital signature systems and methods to represent network path trace information in a packet, implemented by a network element in a network include updating a digital signature based on a unique identifier of the network element, wherein the digital signature is carried in-band with the packet; and transmitting the packet by the network element with the updated digital signature, wherein the digital signature represents the network path trace information of the packet up to the network element. The digital signature is a key carried in-band with the packet, and the updating can include performing an exclusive OR function with a current key and a Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) of a bit field with the unique identifier included therein to derive a new key which is inserted as the digital signature in the packet.

Abstract: Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) scaling systems and methods are implemented by a network function performed by one of a physical network element and a virtual network element executed on one or more processors. The OAM scaling method includes providing N packet services, N is an integer; and, responsive to determined OAM session scaling limits, providing OAM sessions for the N packet services in an oversubscribed manner, wherein the determined OAM session scaling limits include M OAM sessions supported by the network function, M is an integer and less than N.

Abstract: A packet network linear protection method, a network, and a node in a dual or multi-home configuration include designating each of a plurality of home nodes in the dual or multi-home configuration as a working home or a protect home; designating each link between each of the plurality of home nodes and an end node in the dual or multi-home configuration as active or standby; operating a protection switch state machine based on an associated linear protection protocol at each of the plurality of home nodes and the end node; communicating protection messages to each of the plurality of home nodes from the end node; and communicating protection states in an associated protection switch state machine by each of the plurality of home nodes to other home nodes and to the end node.