Abstract: Methods, nodes and control modules are disclosed. In the method, circuitry of a first node in a mesh network converts an optical layer in a working path between the first node and a second node, to a data stream in a digital layer. The working path carries data traffic from the first node to the second node in the optical layer of the mesh network when there is no failure in the working path. Circuitry of the first node in the mesh network detects a failure in the working path due to detection of an error in the data stream in the digital layer. The circuitry of the first node establishes, through transmission of at least one signal from the first node to the second node, a restoration path in the optical layer based on, at least in part, detection of the error in the data stream in the digital layer.

Abstract: Embodiments herein include methods and apparatuses for providing optical channel protection by a switching controller in an optical networking system. The switching controller may receive, from a light module, a digital fault status message that indicates whether a digital frame demodulated from an optical signal include a fault. The switching controller may receive from an Optical Supervisory Channel (OSC) module, an Optical Layer Defect Propagation (OLDP) status message that indicates an OSC status of the optical signal on a current optical path. The switching controller may receive, from an Optical Add Drop Multiplexer (OADM) module, an optical power status message that indicates a measured power level of the optical signal on the optical path. Based on at least one of the OLDP status, the optical power status, or the digital fault status message, the switching controller may determine the optical path as a working path or a protecting path.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling during GMPLS sub-network connection (SNC) establishment. Additionally, methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling after GMPLS sub-network connection establishment, that is, for existing connections.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of receiving, with circuitry at a first node, a signal indicative of a request to set up an optical channel data unit label switched path between the first node and a second node in a network. Time slots for a plurality of types of signals to be transmitted from the first node to the second node are reserved, and a set up message is transmitted from the first node to the second node. The set up message identifies the plurality of signal types and the reserved time slots. The optical channel data unit label switched path is then provided between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: One or more servers may receive an instruction to change a modulation format, associated with one or more optical channels, from a first modulation format to a second modulation format; provide the instruction to change the modulation format to a network device, associated with the one or more optical channels, to cause the network device to change the modulation format, associated with the one or more optical channels, from the first modulation format to the second modulation format; and determine that a license repository is to be updated based on receiving the instruction to change the modulation format. The license repository may store one or more licenses. The one or more servers may generate a license update instruction to update the license repository based on determining that the license repository is to be updated and output the license update instruction to cause the license repository to be updated.

Abstract: A network device includes a multi-chassis system in which each chassis includes a RSVP-TE protocol stack that may provide RSVP-TE services for LSP tunnels associated with each chassis. The multi-chassis system may include an administrative chassis. The administrative chassis may forward RSVP messages to other chassis of the network device. The administrative chassis may encapsulate the RSVP messages with a chassis address. The other chassis may de-encapsulate the RSVP messages and process the RSVP messages according to the RSVP-TE protocol. The administrative chassis may obtain session information associated with other chassis based on RSVP messages received. The administrative chassis may manage adjacency mechanisms and failure and recovery mechanisms. The multi-chassis system including the distributed RSVP-TE protocol stacks may minimize scalability issues and improve performance when high-capacity routing and/or switching services are needed.

Abstract: A device may receive information that identifies a data item and a data item operation. The device may store a first sequence identifier, a data item reference that references the data item, and an operation reference that references the operation. The first sequence identifier may reference the data item and operation references, and may indicate an order in which the first sequence identifier is stored. The device may store the data item in a memory location, may store an identification of the memory location, may remove a reference to the data item by a previous sequence identifier, and/or may add the data item, may modify the data item, or may delete the data item depending on whether the operation is an add operation, a modify operation, or a delete operation. The device may transmit, to a slave device, the first sequence identifier, the data item reference, and the operation reference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to compute a route through a network having both digital nodes and optical express-thru nodes. According to various embodiments of the invention, a network topology is generated in which both digital nodes, optical express-thru nodes, and optical nodes are identified, and both physical and virtual links between these nodes are mapped. The network connectivity is identified, at least in part, by broadcasting a local link state advertisement and optical carrier group binding information to neighboring nodes, which enables both physical and virtual neighboring nodes to be identified. Once a topology is generated, both physical and virtual link characteristics are analyzed to ensure link diversity for traffic through the network and load balancing functionality across the network.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling during GMPLS sub-network connection (SNC) establishment. Additionally, methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling after GMPLS sub-network connection establishment, that is, for existing connections.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of receiving, with circuitry at a first node, a signal indicative of a request to set up an optical channel data unit label switched path between the first node and a second node in a network. Time slots for a plurality of types of signals to be transmitted from the first node to the second node are reserved, and a set up message is transmitted from the first node to the second node. The set up message identifies the plurality of signal types and the reserved time slots. The optical channel data unit label switched path is then provided between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: A method and node are disclosed. In the method, circuitry of a first node generates a link state advertising message including bandwidth information indicative of unreserved number of optical channel data unit containers for a plurality of different types of signals supported by an interface of the first node. The link state advertising message is transmitted from the first node to a plurality of second nodes within a mesh network.

Abstract: A network device includes a multi-chassis system in which each chassis includes a RSVP-TE protocol stack that may provide RSVP-TE services for LSP tunnels associated with each chassis. The multi-chassis system may include an administrative chassis. The administrative chassis may forward RSVP messages to other chassis of the network device. The administrative chassis may encapsulate the RSVP messages with a chassis address. The other chassis may de-encapsulate the RSVP messages and process the RSVP messages according to the RSVP-TE protocol. The administrative chassis may obtain session information associated with other chassis based on RSVP messages received. The administrative chassis may manage adjacency mechanisms and failure and recovery mechanisms. The multi-chassis system including the distributed RSVP-TE protocol stacks may minimize scalability issues and improve performance when high-capacity routing and/or switching services are needed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to compute a route through a network having both digital nodes and optical express-thru nodes. According to various embodiments of the invention, a network topology is generated in which both digital nodes, optical express-thru nodes, and optical nodes are identified, and both physical and virtual links between these nodes are mapped. The network connectivity is identified, at least in part, by broadcasting a local link state advertisement and optical carrier group binding information to neighboring nodes, which enables both physical and virtual neighboring nodes to be identified. Once a topology is generated, both physical and virtual link characteristics are analyzed to ensure link diversity for traffic through the network and load balancing functionality across the network.