Abstract: The present invention relates to a method in an Ethernet ring for protecting the Ethernet ring from a superloop going through the Ethernet ring, wherein the Ethernet ring comprises at least one ring node and two interface nodes between the Ethernet ring and a VPLS-domain, the Ethernet ring further comprises a ring protection link, the method comprises the steps of: receiving in one of the interface nodes a withdrawal message intended to indicate that the other interface node is malfunctioning, the method being further characterized by the further step of; maintaining said ring protection link in the Ethernet ring in response to the withdrawal message.

Abstract: A method and Provider Edge Bridge for providing a Virtual C-tagged User Network Interface (VUNI) service interface or a Hairpin Switching 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 Metro Ethernet Network (MEN); and a second S-VLAN component connected to the C-VLAN component, to the first S-VLAN component, and to an External Network Network Interface (E-NNI). 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 MEN, and to the E-NNI. In both embodiments, the Provider Edge Bridge is configured to provide the VUNI service interface or the Hairpin Switching service interface without utilizing a S-VLAN mapping component.

Abstract: A network interconnect node of an internal network may communicate with an external network interconnect node of an external network, other internal network interconnect node(s) and internal network node(s). The network interconnect node may receive frames from the external network interconnect node and forward them according to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tagging forwarding process to other internal network interconnect node(s) or internal network node(s) based on whether the network interconnect node is active for the service associated with the frames. The network interconnect node may receive frames from other internal network interconnect node(s) or from internal network nodes and forward them according to the VLAN tagging forwarding process to other internal network interconnect nodes, internal network nodes or the external network interconnect node based on whether the frames are encapsulated frames and/or whether the network interconnect node is active for the service.

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: The present invention relates to methods and devices for monitoring a data path extending from an originating node to a terminating node in a network. In a first aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the step of submitting, to the originating node, a request to monitor at least one network status parameter associated with a particular data flow transported on the data path. Further, the method comprises the step of submitting, to all nodes in the data path, a data flow identifier indicating the particular data flow being one out of a plurality of data flows that can be transported on the data path. Moreover, the method comprises the step of receiving, from at least one of the nodes in the data path, a response message comprising the requested at least one network status parameter.

Abstract: A network bridge configured to convey customer traffic between a customer equipment and any of an MPLS network and an Ethernet network is disclosed. The network bridge comprises a C-VLAN component, an S-VLAN component and an MPLS component. The C-VLAN component can receive an Ethernet frame that carries the customer traffic, and forward the Ethernet frame to the S-VLAN component or to the MPLS component in dependence of a C-VID value of the Ethernet frame. The MPLS component can, when the Ethernet frame is received from the C-VLAN component, add MPLS information to the Ethernet frame, and forward the Ethernet frame to the S-VLAN component. The S-VLAN component then forwards the Ethernet frame to any of the MPLS network and the Ethernet network. A related network core bridge, methods and computer-readable medium are also described.

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: 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 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: 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 and network for determining an interconnect node for establishing a forwarding path for service based data within a network system. The method includes assigning, interconnect node status information to network interconnect nodes, wherein a network interconnect node to which a passive status is assigned is only allowed to transmit service based data between an external link and another interconnect node of the network, or between two other interconnect nodes of the network. Only a network interconnect node with active status is allowed to send or receive service based data to or from the network. The method includes determining, for a given service, an interconnect node with active status for establishment of a forwarding path including the interconnect node with active status and an external link, wherein the determination is based on the respective status information assigned to the network interconnect nodes for the service.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and devices for monitoring a data path extending from an originating node to a terminating node in a network. In a first aspect of the present invention, the method comprises the step of submitting, to the originating node, a request to monitor at least one network status parameter associated with a particular data flow transported on the data path. Further, the method comprises the step of submitting, to all nodes in the data path, a data flow identifier indicating the particular data flow being one out of a plurality of data flows that can be transported on the data path. Moreover, the method comprises the step of receiving, from at least one of the nodes in the data path, a response message comprising the requested at least one network status parameter.

Abstract: A method and Provider Edge Bridge for providing a Port-based 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 Port-based interface without utilizing a S-VLAN mapping component.

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 Maintenance Association and corresponding method for configuring maintenance entities for Ethernet Tree (E-Tree) type service instances. A root MEP communicates with each of a plurality of leaf MEPs. Remote MEP state machine instances are activated within the root MEP for each of the plurality of leaf MEPs. Within each leaf MEP, however, only the remote MEP state machine instance for the root MEP is activated while leaving the remote MEP state machine instances for all other leaf MEPs in an inactive state in which Connectivity Check Messages (CCMs) are not exchanged.

Abstract: A method for detecting a mismatch between a first port and a second port includes determining whether a destination address associated with the second port and a virtual local access network identifier (VID) for a service instance monitored by a first maintenance end point are included in a table of the first port. The method further includes setting a traffic field in a first continuity check message. The method additionally includes receiving, at the first maintenance end point, a second continuity check message that includes a traffic field. The method also includes detecting a mismatch when the value of the traffic field in the second continuity check message does not match the value of the traffic field in the first continuity check message.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a technique for forwarding frames received by a network interconnect node (114) of an internal network (112) having the network interconnect node (114), one or more internal network nodes (118, 120) and one or more other internal network interconnect nodes (116), the network interconnect node (114) having a network interconnect interface for communicating with an external network interconnect node (104) of an external network (102) and a network interface for communicating with one or more of the other internal network interconnect nodes (116) and with one or more of the internal network nodes (118, 120), wherein the frames are related to a service provided by at least one of the external network (102) and the internal network (112).

Abstract: A network bridge configured to convey customer traffic between a customer equipment and any of an MPLS network and an Ethernet network is disclosed. The network bridge comprises a C-VLAN component, an S-VLAN component and an MPLS component. The C-VLAN component can receive an Ethernet frame that carries the customer traffic, and forward the Ethernet frame to the S-VLAN component or to the MPLS component in dependence of a C-VID value of the Ethernet frame. The MPLS component can, when the Ethernet frame is received from the C-VLAN component, add MPLS information to the Ethernet frame, and forward the Ethernet frame to the S-VLAN component. The S- VLAN component then forwards the Ethernet frame to any of the MPLS network and the Ethernet network. A related network core bridge, methods and computer-readable medium are also described.

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.