Abstract: A system for testing Ethernet paths or links without adversely impacting non-test traffic. The system includes a test traffic generator that includes a scheduler that determines when a new test packet is generated. The test traffic generator includes a packet creator that builds a test packet and a transmitter for transmitting the test packet via the Ethernet path or link. The packet creator sends the test packet to the transmitter. The traffic generator includes a transmit credit block coupled to the transmitter or to the scheduler. The transmit credit block stores an amount of credits representing a number of bytes that are available to transmit and decrements the amount each time a non-test packet is communicated via the Ethernet path or link.

Abstract: A method of discovering a device in a communication network having multiple interconnected nodes includes continuously monitoring, by a device to be discovered, any IP packets sent by a discoverer. The method further includes transmitting, by the discoverer, an IP packet destined for a downstream device and receiving, by the device to be discovered, the IP packet. The method further includes determining, by the device to be discovered, whether the IP packet is intended for the device to be discovered. If the IP packet is not intended for the device to be discovered, retransmitting, by the device to be discovered, the IP packet to the downstream device via an egress port of the device to be discovered.

Abstract: A system for negotiating Ethernet link settings between interconnected nodes in a network having an Ethernet protocol stack that includes a PCS sub-layer with an auto-negotiation function. The system comprises connecting an intermediate device coupled between two network nodes via optical or copper interfaces, with the link settings between each node and the connected intermediate device being the same, thereby bypassing the auto-negotiation of the PCS sub-layer in the intermediate device. The intermediate device may transparently send negotiation messages from each node to the other during the link negotiation phase without interacting with those messages. Instead of the intermediate device, a single form pluggable (SFP) device may be connected between the two network nodes via optical or copper interfaces on the network side and via an SFP slot on the device side.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is technology to reduce latency of frames through a network device supporting various priorities. In an implementation, a method comprises configuring one or more priorities with a preemptive right over other one or more of said plurality of priorities; receiving frames in a sequence, each of the frames having a frame priority comprising of one of said plurality of priorities; queuing the received frames in a predetermined order based on a frame arrival time and the frame priority; transmitting a current frame based on a current frame priority and current frame arrival time; stopping transmission of the current frame when a later frame in the sequence is received that has a later frame priority with preemptive right over the current frame priority; transmitting an invalid frame check sequence; transmitting the later frame; and restarting the transmission of the current frame after transmitting the later frame.

Abstract: A system for negotiating Ethernet link settings between interconnected nodes in a network having an Ethernet protocol stack that includes a PCS sub-layer with an auto-negotiation function. The system comprises connecting an intermediate device coupled between two network nodes via optical or copper interfaces, with the link settings between each node and the connected intermediate device being the same, thereby bypassing the auto-negotiation of the PCS sub-layer in the intermediate device. The intermediate device may transparently send negotiation messages from each node to the other during the link negotiation phase without interacting with those messages. Instead of the intermediate device, a single form pluggable (SFP) device may be connected between the two network nodes via optical or copper interfaces on the network side and via an SFP slot on the device side.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is technology to reduce latency of frames through a network device supporting various priorities. In an implementation, a method comprises configuring one or more priorities with a preemptive right over other one or more of said plurality of priorities; receiving frames in a sequence, each of the frames having a frame priority comprising of one of said plurality of priorities; queuing the received frames in a predetermined order based on a frame arrival time and the frame priority; transmitting a current frame based on a current frame priority and current frame arrival time; stopping transmission of the current frame when a later frame in the sequence is received that has a later frame priority with preemptive right over the current frame priority; transmitting an invalid frame check sequence; transmitting the later frame; and restarting the transmission of the current frame after transmitting the later frame.

Abstract: A small form factor pluggable (“SFP”) transceiver for use in a communications network includes a transmitter adapted to be coupled to the network for supplying signals to the network, a receiver adapted to be coupled to the network for receiving signals from the network, and a programmable signal processing module coupled to the transmitter and the receiver and adapted to be programmed from a remote station coupled to the network. The module can be programmed to perform at least one service or management function on the network.

Abstract: A method of discovering a device in a communication network having multiple interconnected nodes includes continuously monitoring, by a device to be discovered, any IP packets sent by a discoverer. The method further includes transmitting, by the discoverer, an IP packet destined for a downstream device and receiving, by the device to be discovered, the IP packet. The method further includes determining, by the device to be discovered, whether the IP packet is intended for the device to be discovered. If the IP packet is not intended for the device to be discovered, retransmitting, by the device to be discovered, the IP packet to the downstream device via an egress port of the device to be discovered.

Abstract: A method of determining the latency of path segments in a communication network that uses multi-bit data packets comprises generating a test packet for use in determining the latency of path segments in the network; transmitting the test packet from a first device coupled to the network; storing in the test packet the time when a preselected bit in the test packet is transmitted from the first device; when the test packet is received by a second device coupled to the network, storing in the second device at least one of (a) the time when a preselected bit in the test packet is received by the second device and (b) the difference between (i) the time when the preselected bit in the test packet is transmitted from the first device and (ii) the time when the test packet is received by the second device.

Abstract: A SOAM virtualization system for a network having at least first and second maintenance entities coupled to each other comprises a network controller coupled to at least one of the first and second maintenance entities through a tunnel for virtualizing a SOAM network function on the at least one of the first and second maintenance entities to which the network controller is coupled. The network controller may be coupled to the first and second maintenance entities through first and second tunnels, respectively. The first maintenance entity may an originator device, and the second maintenance entity may be a destination device, with the network controller virtualizing the SOAM network function on both devices. The network controller may send a packet containing a tunnel header and a SOAM frame via the first tunnel to the originator device, which then sends the packet containing the SOAM frame to the destination device.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein for monitoring a network path. In an implementation, a device on a network path obtains a burst capacity of the network path, determines a round trip time associated with a burst of traffic sent over the network path, and determines a predicted throughput of the network path based at least in part on the burst capacity of the network path and the rount trip time of the burst of traffic.

Abstract: A small form factor pluggable (“SFP”) transceiver for use in a communications network includes a transmitter adapted to be coupled to the network for supplying signals to the network, a receiver adapted to be coupled to the network for receiving signals from the network, and a programmable signal processing module coupled to the transmitter and the receiver and adapted to be programmed from a remote station coupled to the network. The module can be programmed to perform at least one service or management function on the network.

Abstract: A method of determining the latency of path segments in a communication network that uses multi-bit data packets comprises generating a test packet for use in determining the latency of path segments in the network; transmitting the test packet from a first device coupled to the network; storing in the test packet the time when a preselected bit in the test packet is transmitted from the first device; when the test packet is received by a second device coupled to the network, storing in the second device at least one of (a) the time when a preselected bit in the test packet is received by the second device and (b) the difference between (i) the time when the preselected bit in the test packet is transmitted from the first device and (ii) the time when the test packet is received by the second device.

Abstract: Technology is disclosed herein for monitoring a network path. In an implementation, a device on a network path obtains a burst capacity of the network path, determines a round trip time associated with a burst of traffic sent over the network path, and determines a predicted throughput of the network path based at least in part on the burst capacity of the network path and the round trip time of the burst of traffic.

Abstract: A SOAM virtualization system for a network having at least first and second maintenance entities coupled to each other comprises a network controller coupled to at least one of the first and second maintenance entities through a tunnel for virtualizing a SOAM network function on the at least one of the first and second maintenance entities to which the network controller is coupled. The network controller may be coupled to the first and second maintenance entities through first and second tunnels, respectively. The first maintenance entity may an originator device, and the second maintenance entity may be a destination device, with the network controller virtualizing the SOAM network function on both devices. The network controller may send a packet containing a tunnel header and a SOAM frame via the first tunnel to the originator device, which then sends the packet containing the SOAM frame to the destination device.

Abstract: A method of measuring available bandwidth of a radio frequency (RF) transmission link, said method comprising transmitting a train comprising a plurality of frames of the transmission link, receiving the train, measuring the time taken to receive the train, and estimating the available bandwidth by dividing the number of bits transmitted by the difference between the receiving time of the leading frame in the train and the receiving time of the last frame in the train.

Abstract: A method of simplifying the implementation of Synchronous Ethernet on an Ethernet device having a first port and a second port device using a predetermined protocol and signaling, comprises delivering a master clock from a Synchronous Ethernet system to the first port of the Ethernet device; transmitting the delivered master clock to the second port of the Ethernet device independently of the protocol and signaling of the Ethernet device; and transmitting the master clock from the second port of the Ethernet device to a downstream device that supports Synchronous Ethernet. In one implementation, the Ethernet device has a local clock, and the method synchronizes the local clock to the master clock. In another implementation, the Ethernet device does not have a local clock, and the master clock is transmitted from the second port of the Ethernet device to the downstream device without any synchronizing operation at the Ethernet device.

Abstract: A method of simplifying the implementation of Synchronous Ethernet on an Ethernet device having a first port and a second port device using a predetermined protocol and signaling, comprises delivering a master clock from a Synchronous Ethernet system to the first port of the Ethernet device; transmitting the delivered master clock to the second port of the Ethernet device independently of the protocol and signaling of the Ethernet device; and transmitting the master clock from the second port of the Ethernet device to a downstream device that supports Synchronous Ethernet. In one implementation, the Ethernet device has a local clock, and the method synchronizes the local clock to the master clock. In another implementation, the Ethernet device does not have a local clock, and the master clock is transmitted from the second port of the Ethernet device to the downstream device without any synchronizing operation at the Ethernet device.

Abstract: A method of discovering addressing information of one or more upstream devices to respond to specific messages by a second device on behalf of the one or more upstream devices in a network includes acquiring the addressing information in an upstream direction from one or more downstream devices to the one or more upstream devices. The method further includes acquiring the addressing information in a downstream direction from the one or more upstream devices to the one or more downstream devices. The method further includes responding to specific messages using the acquired addressing information about the one or more upstream devices.

Abstract: A system for testing Ethernet paths or links without adversely impacting non-test traffic. The system includes a test traffic generator that includes a scheduler that determines when a new test packet is generated. The test traffic generator includes a packet creator that builds a test packet and a transmitter for transmitting the test packet via the Ethernet path or link. The packet creator sends the test packet to the transmitter. The traffic generator includes a transmit credit block coupled to the transmitter or to the scheduler. The transmit credit block stores an amount of credits representing a number of bytes that are available to transmit and decrements the amount each time a non-test packet is communicated via the Ethernet path or link.