Abstract: A method and system for provisioning circuits on multiple parallel links with a single setup message is disclosed. A setup message specifying links in a circuit path is transmitted to switches along the circuit path. If a switch determines that a link specified in the setup message has insufficient bandwidth for the circuit, the switch substitutes a parallel link having sufficient bandwidth for the specified link in the circuit path. The setup message can indicate whether substitution for a link is permitted. This can be used to prevent substitution for links when provisioning service routes for new circuits in order to maintain diversity requirements, while allowing substitution for links when provisioning restoration routes for failed circuits in order to reduce restoration time.

Abstract: A method and system for provisioning circuits on multiple parallel links with a single setup message is disclosed. A setup message specifying links in a circuit path is transmitted to switches along the circuit path. If a switch determines that a link specified in the setup message has insufficient bandwidth for the circuit, the switch substitutes a parallel link having sufficient bandwidth for the specified link in the circuit path. The setup message can indicate whether substitution for a link is permitted. This can be used to prevent substitution for links when provisioning service routes for new circuits in order to maintain diversity requirements, while allowing substitution for links when provisioning restoration routes for failed circuits in order to reduce restoration time.

Abstract: A method and system for provisioning circuits on multiple parallel links with a single setup message is disclosed. A setup message specifying links in a circuit path is transmitted to switches along the circuit path. If a switch determines that a link specified in the setup message has insufficient bandwidth for the circuit, the switch substitutes a parallel link having sufficient bandwidth for the specified link in the circuit path. The setup message can indicate whether substitution for a link is permitted. This can be used to prevent substitution for links when provisioning service routes for new circuits in order to maintain diversity requirements, while allowing substitution for links when provisioning restoration routes for failed circuits in order to reduce restoration time.

Abstract: A method for estimating restoration capacity for a communication network includes a specified number of restoration paths, which can be maximally diverse from each other.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for provisioning a label switched path (LSP) between two endpoints executing a first set of MPLS functions. The method and apparatus associates a first node with the first endpoint and a second node with the second endpoint. The first node is designated as the source. Both the first and second nodes execute a second set of MPLS functions, wherein the second set of MPLS functions include the first set of MPLS functions and additional MPLS functions. As the source, the first node provisions a first MPLS path (i.e., LSP) between itself and the first endpoint. The first node then provisions a second MPLS path (i.e., LSP) between the first node and the second node. The first node then transmits a message to the second node instructing the second node to provision a third MPLS path between the second node and the second endpoint. The three MPLS paths are bridged at the first and second nodes to complete the LSP between the two endpoints.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for bundling signaling messages to provide better circuit connection performance and scalability in circuit restoration during a network failure of communication networks.

Abstract: A method for estimating restoration capacity for a communication network includes a specified number of restoration paths, which can be maximally diverse from each other.

Abstract: A method and system for provisioning circuits on multiple parallel links with a single setup message is disclosed. A setup message specifying links in a circuit path is transmitted to switches along the circuit path. If a switch determines that a link specified in the setup message has insufficient bandwidth for the circuit, the switch substitutes a parallel link having sufficient bandwidth for the specified link in the circuit path. The setup message can indicate whether substitution for a link is permitted. This can be used to prevent substitution for links when provisioning service routes for new circuits in order to maintain diversity requirements, while allowing substitution for links when provisioning restoration routes for failed circuits in order to reduce restoration time.

Abstract: A method and system for provisioning circuits on multiple parallel links with a single setup message is disclosed. A setup message specifying links in a circuit path is transmitted to switches along the circuit path. If a switch determines that a link specified in the setup message has insufficient bandwidth for the circuit, the switch substitutes a parallel link having sufficient bandwidth for the specified link in the circuit path. The setup message can indicate whether substitution for a link is permitted. This can be used to prevent substitution for links when provisioning service routes for new circuits in order to maintain diversity requirements, while allowing substitution for links when provisioning restoration routes for failed circuits in order to reduce restoration time.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can include, but are not limited to, a method that can include, but is not limited to, a plurality of activities, that can include, but are not limited to: via a capacity planning simulation, for a circuit affected by a failure scenario of a communication network: failing the affected circuit; and rendering an indication that a selected unaffected link has a maximum available capacity of at least a predetermined amount of capacity associated with the communication network being fully restorable.

Abstract: A method and system for enabling packet based communications using MPLS protocol between routing devices located on different networks. A network management system is used to provide a conduit for MPLS protocol information to flow between a routing device on one network and a routing device on another network to set up packet based MPLS communications between the networks. The flow of MPLS protocol information through the network management system enables the assignment of MPLS labels to packet communication between the routing devices on different networks without the need for using a Control protocol. The network management system may include systems such as an operations support system and an element management system.

Abstract: A method for estimating restoration capacity for a communication network includes a specified number of restoration paths, which can be maximally diverse from each other.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for introducing new factors to properly account for the benefits of carrying an appropriate amount of capacity in a communication network. The present invention defines a variable that represents the benefit of the spare capacity of a link. The notion of benefit is similar to the notion of a negative cost of link augments.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for introducing new factors to properly account for the benefits of carrying an appropriate amount of capacity in a communication network. The present invention defines a variable that represents the benefit of the spare capacity of a link. The notion of benefit is similar to the notion of a negative cost of link augments.

Abstract: A method for estimating restoration capacity for a communication network includes a specified number of restoration paths, which can be maximally diverse from each other.

Abstract: A method for estimating restoration capacity for a communication network includes a specified number of restoration paths, which can be maximally diverse from each other.

Abstract: A generalized leaky bucket mechanism allowing multiple burst sizes and drain rates. The generalized leaky bucket includes multiple token pool sizes and drain rates, wherein the leaky bucket gradually steps up to larger token pool sizes and steps down as soon as user bursts utilize the increased number of tokens. This allows bursts of various sizes with frequencies which decrease with the burst size. Control of when to step up to higher burst sizes is accomplished through simple trigger conditions which operate to selectively increment the token pool count of the leaky bucket at these times.

Abstract: A facility is provided for use in a packet switch to control unnecessary multiple retransmissions of a data packet. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, such control is achieved by tracking in a list the sequence numbers of transmitted data packets and retransmitting a data packet only if its sequence number appears in the list prior to the sequence number of the last data packet that is received correctly by a receiver. The sequence number associated with a retransmitted data packet is deleted from the list and then appended to the list to place the number in proper relationship with the sequence numbers of data packets transmitted after the initial transmission of the retransmitted data packet.

Abstract: A packet transmission protocol, which operates in a full-duplex mode in a system, which includes a transmitter, a receiver, and a communications network having a channel that logically ties the transmitter and the receiver together through the network, is disclosed. The receiver regularly sends a control packet to the transmitter. The control packet includes a plurality of data fields, which are useful in describing the state of the receiver to the transmitter. The transmitter receives the receiver's control packet and analyzes the data. If it finds that a particular block of packets had been received with an error (or not received at all), then the transmitter retransmits the block. The protocol includes two windows for controlling the volume of information, e.g. number of blocks, in the network.