Abstract: A source node for addressing target nodes (44, 46) in a communication system (10), the source node configured to be part of an Ethernet domain (20) and the target nodes (44, 46) configured to be part of a Multiple Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) domain (40) that is connected to the Ethernet domain (20) via an interworking node (30). The source node is further configured to: i) generate a message (51) comprising an identifier of the source node, an identifier of the interworking node (30), and an identifier of a certain target node (44) of the target nodes (44, 46), ii) send the message (51) to the certain target node (44) via the interworking node (30), and iii) receive from the certain target node (44) via interworking node (30) a reply (54) to the message (51). An alternate source node, related interworking nodes and methods are also described.

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: Methods and apparatus for operating a virtual node in a LAG that includes a first virtual node and a second virtual node are disclosed. The first virtual node includes at least a first fellow node and a second fellow node. In one exemplary method, the first fellow node receives, from the second virtual node, first control information comprising a system ID and first configuration information associated with the LAG. The first control information is compared with reference configuration information representing previously established expected configuration information associated with the LAG. Based on that comparison, and at least one additional criterion, a split brain condition may be determined to exist in the LAG. In a complementary fashion, a fellow node of the second virtual node may be configured to alter its transmitted configuration information depending on whether it is able to communicate with its fellow node in the second virtual node.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for methods and systems for interworking between an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and a MAC address Multiple Registration Protocol (MMRP). For example, an IGMP join or leave message which is received at node is translated into an equivalent MMRP message for forwarding into an MMRP portion of a network.

Abstract: A method is disclosed that is to be executed for supporting operator commands in a link aggregation group at a network device. The method starts with receiving a local operator command for changing aggregation port priority of the link aggregation group, where the local operator command contains operator command attributes including an operator command aggregation port prioritized list. The method continues with determining that the operator command aggregation port prioritized list is different from a remote aggregation port prioritized list used at the remote network device. The network device then transmits a set of operator command attributes associated with the local operator command to the remote network device and performs the local operator command by setting a local aggregation port prioritized list to be consistent with the operator command aggregation port prioritized list for the link aggregation group.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a network node for service instance management in telecommunications network. According to the method a plurality of network paths are monitored. A number of network paths form a protection group associated with a service instance or group of service instances. The monitoring of the network paths includes periodic transmission of CCMs on the network paths. To facilitate detection of mismatches related to protection switching, some CCMs include a mismatch information element that specifies traffic status of a working network path and of a protection network path for a set of protection groups. The set of protections groups includes the protection groups which the monitored network path is a member of. A CCM that includes the mismatch information element also includes an indication bit that indicates presence of the mismatch information element in the CCM.

Abstract: An arrangement in a network (10), comprising: a site node (100) arranged to comprise a base station (120), the base station (120) being adapted for termination of wireless communication, and a central node (140) arranged to comprise a service unit (160), the service unit (160) being adapted for communication with the base station (120), wherein the central node (140) comprises a central switch unit (155), adapted for switching of data between the base station (120) and the service unit (160), wherein the base station (120) and the central switch unit (155) are optically connected, thus enabling that communication is carried by light.

Abstract: A method and Provider Edge Bridge for providing a C-tagged service interface or a port-based interface. In one embodiment, the Provider Edge Bridge includes a Customer Virtual Local Area Network (C-VLAN) component having a Customer Edge Port (CEP) and a plurality of Provider Edge Ports (PEPs). A first Service VLAN (S-VLAN) component is connected to the C-VLAN component and to a Metro Ethernet Network (MEN). A second S-VLAN component is connected to the C-VLAN component, to the first S-VLAN component, and to an External Network Network Interface (E-NNI). A plurality of ports on the first S-VLAN component facing the MEN are designated as S-VLAN Remote Customer Ports (RCPs) when the ports are connecting internal services in the MEN to provide the C-tagged service interface or the port-based interface to customers from a far side of the E-NNI.

Abstract: A technique for explicit path control for traffic forwarding in a network comprising multiple nodes is described. A device embodiment comprises a path computation element that is configured to receive, from an edge node, control protocol data units of a control protocol. The path computation element is further configured to determine an explicit path from information contained in the received control protocol data units and to instruct the edge nodes to perform an action to have the explicit path installed in the network.

Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for methods and systems for interworking between an Internet Group Management Protocol (IGMP) and a MAC address Multiple Registration Protocol (MMRP). For example, an IGMP join or leave message which is received at node (700) is translated (702) into an equivalent MMRP message for forwarding into an MMRP portion of a network (704).

Abstract: A method is disclosed to forward Ethernet frames associated with a service instance at a node (a “forwarding node”) in a network supporting an implementation of a protocol for creating logical loop-free topologies. The method starts with receiving a number of MMRPDUs at the forwarding node from links in the first network (receiving links), where each MMRPDU of the first plurality of MMRPDUs contains a first interested node list including one or more interested nodes identified by MAC addresses. Then a service instance identifier (SID) is identified for the service instance and a first set of MAC addresses interested in the service instance is formed. Then a number of MMRPDUs are sent to links associated with the service instance, where each MMRPDU contains a second set of MAC addresses interested in the service instance. The sending may be accompanied by the node installing filtering at the forwarding node accordingly.

Abstract: A method that improves multi-area routed Ethernet network design, in which multipath implementation in each of the areas is independent of each other area to allow optimal network design in each area. The network implements a shortest path bridging medium access control (SPBM) protocol. The areas include a Level 2 (L2) routing area coupled to a Level 1 (L1) routing area via multiple area border bridges (ABBs). The L1 routing area including a backbone edge bridge (BEB) coupled to the ABBs via multiple L1 multipath instances identified by respective backbone VLAN identifiers (B-VIDs). The ABBs receive an advertisement from the BEB that indicates a set of BEB identifiers, each of which identifies the BEB and is associated with a respective B-VID. Each of the BEB identifiers is unique. The ABBs also advertise into the L2 routing area, and translate the B-VIDs based on service identifiers for frames transiting the ABBs.

Abstract: A technique for status change handling in an interconnect node is described, wherein the node comprises a data plane that can assume, per service, a passive or active status. A method aspect in the node comprises transmitting, to another node, a first indication that a change has been or is about to be performed, awaiting, from the other node, reception of a second indication that the data plane in the other node has been set to the passive status, and activating, responsive to the received indication, the data plane of the node from the passive status to the active status. The method aspect in the other node further comprises receiving, from the node, the first indication, passivating, responsive to the receiving step, the data plane being in the active status to the passive status, and transmitting, upon completion of the passivating step, the second indication.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a network node for service instance management in telecommunications network. According to the method a plurality of network paths are monitored. A number of network paths form a protection group associated with a service instance or group of service instances. The monitoring of the network paths includes periodic transmission of CCMs on the network paths. To facilitate detection of mismatches related to protection switching, some CCMs include a mismatch information element that specifies traffic status of a working network path and of a protection network path for a set of protection groups. The set of protections groups includes the protection groups which the monitored network path is a member of. A CCM that includes the mismatch information element also includes an indication bit that indicates presence of the mismatch information element in the CCM.

Abstract: A method and Provider Edge Bridge for providing a C-tagged service interface. In one embodiment, the Provider Edge Bridge includes a Customer Virtual Local Area Network (C-VLAN) component; a first Service VLAN (S-VLAN) component connected to the C-VLAN component and to a Provider Bridged Network; and a second S-VLAN component connected to the C-VLAN component, to the first S-VLAN component, and to customer equipments. In another embodiment, the Provider Edge Bridge includes the C-VLAN component and a single S-VLAN component connected to the C-VLAN component, to the Provider Bridged Network, and to the customer equipments. In both embodiments, the Provider Edge Bridge is configured to provide the C-tagged service interface without utilizing a S-VLAN mapping component.

Abstract: A method supporting a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) in a link aggregation group upon communication failure at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with determining that the network device no longer communicates with its neighbor network device. The network device then determines that its partner network device no longer communicates with the partner network device's neighbor network device. The network device determines that the first portal that the network device belongs to has a higher portal priority than the second portal that the partner network device belongs to, wherein each portal is assigned a portal priority, and it determines that the network device has a lower network device priority than the neighbor network device, wherein each network device is assigned a network device priority. Then the network device halts transmitting and receiving frames of the link aggregation group at the network device.

Abstract: A method of supporting a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with initializing the network device for operating distributed resilient control protocol (DRCP) on an intra-portal port (IPP) coupled to a neighbor network device using an intra-port link (IPL). The method continues with the network device checking that DRCP is enabled at the IPP and then enters an expired state. The network device then receives a DRCPDU and determines that the received DRCPDU is associated with the first portal it is assigned to. It determines that the received DRCPDU is compatible with the network device, and records neighbor network device's state information included in the received DRCPDU as state operational variables of the neighbor network device at the network device, wherein the neighbor network device's state information includes DRCP variables for the IPP.

Abstract: A method supporting network and intra-portal link (IPL) sharing in a link aggregation group at a network device is disclosed. The method starts with transmitting frames on the IPL at the network device, where the physical link or aggregation link of the link aggregation group is dedicated to the IPL. The network device determines that the network device is configured with a network and IPL sharing method that is consistent with the neighbor network device, the network and IPL sharing method including sharing by at least one of time, tag, and encapsulation, where the network and IPL sharing method indicates sharing of the physical link or link aggregation between frames for the IPL and frames for another IPL or a network link of the link aggregation group. Then the network device transmits the frames between the network device and the neighbor network device using the network and IPL sharing method.

Abstract: A method of updating operational states of a network device in a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) of a link aggregation group is disclosed. The method starts with initializing the network device for link aggregation, wherein the initialization includes setting variables of the network device for a first portal as configured by administrative settings, where the first portal includes the network device and at least one neighbor network device. The method continues with determining that an operational state associated with the first portal is changed and updating a set of operational states of the network device for link aggregation in response to the operational state change, where the set of operational states of the network device for link aggregation includes an operational state of the gateway of the network device.

Abstract: A method of configuring a set of conversation identifiers (IDs) at a network device in a distributed resilient network interconnect (DRNI) of a link aggregation group is disclosed. The method starts with initializing the set of conversation IDs, wherein the initialization includes setting entries of a Boolean vector associated with the set of conversation IDs to be a sequence of zeroes, and wherein the Boolean vector includes values indicating processing the set of conversation IDs through the single gateway or the single aggregator of the network device. The method continues with determining that distribution of the set of conversation IDs needs to be updated, setting values of an operational vector indexed by the conversation IDs, and setting values of the Boolean vector, wherein the Boolean vector lists whether the single gateway or the single aggregator of the network device is associated with each of the conversation IDs.