Abstract: In particular embodiments, providing wavelength connectivity information to a network includes establishing wavelength connectivity information for a network node of the network. The network node comprises link pairs, where a link pair has an input link and an output link. The wavelength connectivity information describes a set of available wavelengths between an input link and an output link. The wavelength connectivity information is inserted into an advertisement, and the advertisement is sent to at least a subset of the network nodes of the network in real time.

Abstract: A switch includes a processor coupled to a memory, one or more forwarding tables residing within the memory, and one or more ports. The ports are associated with a plurality of virtual local area networks and a plurality of bridge domains. Each of the bridge domains is associated with one of the forwarding tables, and each of the forwarding tables is associated with one of the bridge domains. The processor is configured to assign a first tag to a received packet, assign a second tag to the received packet, look up the destination address of the received packet in one of the forwarding tables, and selectively flood the ports of the active bridge domain with a copy of the received packet. The active bridge domain includes one of the plurality of bridge domains. The active bridge domain is associated with the ingress port of the received packet.

Abstract: Determining availability of an end-to-end physical path associated with reserved resources of a tunnel may include determining, for one or more nodes, a resource status for one or more resources integral to each node. Resource status for the integral resources of each node may be recorded in a message. Each node may communicate its associated message to one or more other nodes. At least one particular node of the one or more nodes may receive the messages communicated from the one or more nodes. The at least one particular node may store resource statuses for each of the one or more nodes. Based on an analysis of resource statuses, the at least one particular node may determine an availability of an end-to-end path of reserved resources of a tunnel including one or more of the nodes based on an analysis of resource statuses.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a network element filters information sent to a neighboring network element. In the embodiments, the core network element may determine whether the neighboring network element is an edge network element or a core network element. If the neighboring network element is an edge network element, the core network element may set a filter, remove traffic engineering information according to the filter, and send the remaining information to the neighboring network element.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, providing signal reachability information to a network includes establishing signal reachability information at a network node of the network. The signal reachability information describes attributes that affect reachability of an optical signal. The signal reachability information is inserted into an advertisement, and the advertisement is sent to network nodes of the network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a switch includes a processor coupled to a memory, one or more forwarding tables residing within the memory, and one or more ports. The one or more ports are associated with a plurality of virtual local area networks. The one or more ports are associated with a plurality of bridge domains. Each of the bridge domains is associated with one of the forwarding tables, and each of the forwarding tables is associated with one of the bridge domains. The processor is configured to assign a first tag to a received packet, the first tag comprising an identification of an active bridge domain, assign a second tag to the received packet, look up the destination address of the received packet in one of the forwarding tables, and if the destination address is not found in the forwarding table, and selectively flood the one or more ports of the active bridge domain with a copy of the received packet. The active bridge domain includes one of the plurality of bridge domains.

Abstract: Determining availability of an end-to-end physical path associated with reserved resources of a tunnel may include determining, for one or more nodes, a resource status for one or more resources integral to each node. Resource status for the integral resources of each node may be recorded in a message. Each node may communicate its associated message to one or more other nodes. At least one particular node of the one or more nodes may receive the messages communicated from the one or more nodes. The at least one particular node may store resource statuses for each of the one or more nodes. Based on an analysis of resource statuses, the at least one particular node may determine an availability of an end-to-end path of reserved resources of a tunnel including one or more of the nodes based on an analysis of resource statuses.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, regeneration information indicating the optical reachability of a set of regeneration nodes is managed. Candidate paths from a source node to a destination node are calculated according to the regeneration information. The destination node is optically reachable from the source node along a candidate path. At least one candidate path is selected from the candidate paths.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a network element filters information sent to a neighboring network element. In the embodiments, the core network element may determine whether the neighboring network element is an edge network element or a core network element. If the neighboring network element is an edge network element, the core network element may set a filter, remove traffic engineering information according to the filter, and send the remaining information to the neighboring network element.

Abstract: A method of reserving bandwidth in a network includes the steps of receiving a reservation request for a bandwidth for a hose having one ingress point and at least one egress point, and reserving the requested bandwidth for each link in the hose and assigning a reservation identifier to the hose.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, providing signal reachability information to a network includes establishing signal reachability information at a network node of the network. The signal reachability information describes attributes that affect reachability of an optical signal. The signal reachability information is inserted into an advertisement, and the advertisement is sent to network nodes of the network.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, providing wavelength connectivity information to a network includes establishing wavelength connectivity information for a network node of the network. The network node comprises link pairs, where a link pair has an input link and an output link. The wavelength connectivity information describes a set of available wavelengths between an input link and an output link. The wavelength connectivity information is inserted into an advertisement, and the advertisement is sent to at least a subset of the network nodes of the network in real time.

Abstract: A method of routing packets in a system includes the steps of receiving a plurality of packets, each packet including a routing label and a packet type, routing each packet to a destination within the system specified in the routing label in response to the packet type being indicative of a data packet, and routing each packet to a processor within the system and sending a reply packet to a sender specified in the routing label in response to the packet type being indicative of a control packet.

Abstract: A method to facilitate recovery of a node in a communications network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving one or more messages from at least another node in the communications network and restoring connectivity of a recovering node based at least in part on the received messages.

Abstract: A method for allocating and resizing a link on a communication medium is provided. The utilization of an allocated link is monitored and an unused bandwidth thereof is determined. Upon request for allocation of a second link, at least a portion of the unused bandwidth is included in the bandwidth of the second link allocated. A network including two nodes and a communication medium terminated thereby is operable to provide a plurality of communication links and is operable to resize the bandwidth of the allocated links is provided. The network is operable to monitor the utilization of an allocated bandwidth of an allocated link and deallocate a part of the allocated bandwidth that is non-utilized by the allocated link. The deallocated bandwidth, or a portion thereof, may then be included in a bandwidth allocation made for allocation of an additional link.

Abstract: A method for allocating and resizing a link on a communication medium is provided. The utilization of an allocated link is monitored and an unused bandwidth thereof is determined. Upon request for allocation of a second link, at least a portion of the unused bandwidth is included in the bandwidth of the second link allocated. A network including two nodes and a communication medium terminated thereby is operable to provide a plurality of communication links and is operable to resize the bandwidth of the allocated links is provided. The network is operable to monitor the utilization of an allocated bandwidth of an allocated link and deallocate a part of the allocated bandwidth that is non-utilized by the allocated link. The deallocated bandwidth, or a portion thereof, may then be included in a bandwidth allocation made for allocation of an additional link.

Abstract: A method to facilitate recovery of a node in a communications network is disclosed. The method comprises receiving one or more messages from at least another node in the communications network and restoring connectivity of a recovering node based at least in part on the received messages.

Abstract: A method of routing packets in a system includes the steps of receiving a plurality of packets, each packet including a routing label and a packet type, routing each packet to a destination within the system specified in the routing label in response to the packet type being indicative of a data packet, and routing each packet to a processor within the system and sending a reply packet to a sender specified in the routing label in response to the packet type being indicative of a control packet.

Abstract: A method of reserving bandwidth in a network includes the steps of receiving a reservation request for a bandwidth for a hose having one ingress point and at least one egress point, and reserving the requested bandwidth for each link in the hose and assigning a reservation identifier to the hose.