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 node comprising a packet network interface, an ethernet switch, an optical port, and a distribution engine. The packet network interface adapted to receive a packet having a destination address and a first bit and a second bit. The ethernet switch is adapted to receive and forward the packet into a virtual queue associated with a destination. The optical port has circuitry for transmitting to a plurality of circuits. The distribution engine has one or more processors configured to execute processor executable code to cause the distribution engine to (1) read a first bit and a second bit from the virtual queue, (2) provide the first bit and the second bit to the at least one optical port for transmission to a first predetermined group of the plurality of circuits.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed for the support of traffic protection and recovery in mesh networks having multiple nodes communicating via communication links. The problem of timely and reliable Shared Mesh Protection message delivery is addressed through creation of protocols and encoding of Shared Mesh Protection messages within an overhead of the optical data unit container, and by processing the Shared Mesh Protection messages by intermediate nodes of the mesh network. Thus, the Shared Mesh Protection messages are transmitted through the data plane with the transmission of user data.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed. In the methods, circuitry of a first node generates a link state advertising message including bandwidth information indicative of unreserved aggregate bandwidth for multiple priority connections where aggregate bandwidth is greater than available bandwidth. The link state advertising message is transmitted from the first node to a plurality of second nodes within a mesh network. Node bandwidth constraints may be established that contain some designated allocated bandwidth which is not shared with any other Class Types (CT); however, the bandwidth constraints may also allow segregation of other CTs so that within those CTs allocation of designated bandwidth is guaranteed for high priority traffic and low priority traffic is left with the remaining bandwidth in the CT's allocation.

Abstract: A method for detecting the liveliness and synchronizing the control-plane and data-plane on protecting connections in a shared mesh network environment through methods for probing the protecting connection conditions by sending in-band messages; and synchronization of control plane and data plane by using LSP-ping messages on the protecting connections.

Abstract: A node comprising a packet network interface, an ethernet switch, an optical port, and a distribution engine. The packet network interface adapted to receive a packet having a destination address and a first bit and a second bit. The ethernet switch is adapted to receive and forward the packet into a virtual queue associated with a destination. The optical port has circuitry for transmitting to a plurality of circuits. The distribution engine has one or more processors configured to execute processor executable code to cause the distribution engine to (1) read a first bit and a second bit from the virtual queue, (2) provide the first bit and the second bit to the at least one optical port for transmission to a first predetermined group of the plurality of circuits.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention determine skew relative to a plurality of communication paths on a network system. The network is a wavelength division multiplexed optical transport network. The plurality of communication paths involves different signal and path attributes such as a plurality of carrier wavelengths, optical carrier groups, physical communication paths (different nodes, different fibers along a same path, or any combination of the foregoing), or any other differentiating factors between two paths.

Abstract: A unit fuel injector (30) has a nozzle (36) providing axial guidance of a needle (72) at points proximal and distal to a needle feed cavity (81). The needle has a multi-lobular formation (200) providing distal guidance of the needle while allowing fuel from the needle feed cavity to flow past for injection from orifices (86) when the needle is unseated from a seat on a tapering surface (82). Fuel is delivered to the needle feed cavity through a slant passage (85) in the nozzle non-parallel to a longitudinal axis (AX) along which the needle is displaced. The orifices are arranged in a hemispherically contoured surface (83) distal to the seat and centered on a point on the longitudinal axis. The orifices have circular transverse cross sections. The axis of each orifice extends radially of the point on the longitudinal axis at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A check valve body (44) is disposed within the interior of a main body (32) of a fuel injector (30) and contains a continuous sealing ridge for sealing a perimeter of a cavity (124) between the proximal end face of the check valve body and the distal end face of an intensifier cartridge body (46). A spring cage (42) has a proximal end face disposed within the interior of the main body. An entry check (154) is disposed in an entry through-passage (132), and an exit check (156) is disposed in an exit through-passage (130). A continuous sealing ridge seals a perimeter of an exit cavity (140), and a discontinuous sealing ridge seals a portion of a perimeter of an entry cavity (144). The sealing ridges are asymmetric about a longitudinal axis AX.

Abstract: A method for detecting the liveliness and synchronizing the control-plane and data-plane on protecting connections in a shared mesh network environment through methods for probing the protecting connection conditions by sending in-band messages; and synchronization of control plane and data plane by using LSP-ping messages on the protecting 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: Embodiments of the present invention provide a GMPLS fast re-route of packets within a network using a multicast address and a table comprising a list of alias IP addresses. According to various embodiments of the invention an alternate data path from a source node to a destination node allows a packet to traverse to the destination node without IP forwarding techniques being applied. In other words, a tunneling effect from a source node to a destination node allows other nodes in the network to ignore the packet and only read the multicast address within the header and immediately forward the packet to the destination node. A predetermined set of IP addresses are determined from network topology including all potential paths, for a packet to traverse, to a destination address.

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 method comprising the steps of receiving a signal indicative of a failure of a working connection in a mesh network having a headend node, a tailend node and an intermediate node, and having a protecting connection, and transmitting an activation message via the protecting connection from at least one of the headend node and the tailend node to the intermediate node for activating the protecting connection.

Abstract: A switch node provided with a switch, an input interface and an output interface. The input interface is adapted to couple to a first communication link to receive a first TDM frame having a user payload field containing a first user data from the first communication link, and a frame overhead field containing a first identification. The input interface is configured to validate the first identification in the frame overhead field and reject the first TDM frame responsive to the first identification being invalid, and to forward the first user data to the switch responsive to the first identification being valid. The output interface is adapted to couple to a second communication link. The output interface is configured to receive the first user data from the switch, and to generate a second TDM frame having a second user payload field containing the first user data, and a second frame overhead field containing a second identification that is different from the first identification.

Abstract: A method performed by an optical node, operating as a first network edge device of an optical layer one virtual private network (L1VPN), includes generating, by a first module of the optical node, a first optical data frame, where the first optical data frame includes an L1VPN overhead, and where the L1VPN overhead includes a control plane communication field; generating, by a second module of the optical node, a first control plane message for a second network edge device of the optical L1VPN, where the second network edge device is connected to the first network edge device across a provider network via an optical L1VPN link; incorporating, by the first module, the first control plane message into the control plane communication field of the first optical data frame; and transmitting, by the first module, the first optical data frame to the second network edge device via the optical L1VPN link.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a GMPLS fast re-route of packets within a network using a multicast address and a table comprising a list of alias IP addresses. According to various embodiments of the invention an alternate data path from a source node to a destination node allows a packet to traverse to the destination node without IP forwarding techniques being applied. In other words, a tunneling effect from a source node to a destination node allows other nodes in the network to ignore the packet and only read the multicast address within the header and immediately forward the packet to the destination node. A predetermined set of IP addresses are determined from network topology including all potential paths, for a packet to traverse, to a destination address.

Abstract: A node, of a group of nodes, may detect a failure on a first path; establish a connection associated with a second path when the failure on the first path is detected; store an identifier in a field in an overhead portion of a data frame when the failure on the first path is detected, the data frame including a payload portion that contains a client signal, the identifier instructing another one of the nodes to establish a connection associated with the second path; and transmit the data frame to the other one of the nodes via the second path.

Abstract: A method, performed in a network that includes a group of nodes, includes identifying a path through a set of the nodes, where each node, in the set of nodes, has a data plane and a control plane; establishing a control plane tunnel, associated with the path, within the control plane of the nodes in the set of nodes; establishing a data plane tunnel, associated with the path, within the data plane of the nodes in the set of nodes, where the data plane tunnel is associated with the control plane tunnel and established through the same set of nodes; and transmitting a control message through the control plane tunnel to change a state of the data plane tunnel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for discovery of network elements, which are adjacent within the network data plane but may or may not be adjacent in the network control plane. In one embodiment of the present invention, digital network elements, with a plurality thereof having a lambda switching capability (hereinafter “LSC”) interface, is provided. A digital network element with an LSC interface originates and sends a local advertisement to its immediate control neighbor. Using this LSC originated advertisements; a neighboring network element may be discovered that is adjacent on the network data plane.