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 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 a device to be discovered in a communication network having multiple interconnected nodes includes transmitting, by a discoverer, at least one beacon signal including an IP address to the network. The device to be discovered receives the at least one beacon signal. The device to be discovered configures the IP address located in the at least one beacon signal. Additionally, the device to be discovered transmits an advertisement to a server specified by the discoverer.

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 system for out-of-line testing of performance of a network, comprising a multiplexer at an input to the network; a demultiplexer at an output from the network; the multiplexer further comprising a traffic generator to insert synthetic traffic, and a first switch to accept an incoming customer traffic stream and join the incoming customer traffic stream with a synthetic traffic stream to form a total traffic stream, the total traffic stream fed to the input to the network; and the demultiplexer comprising a second switch to receive the total traffic stream from the output of the network, and separate the total traffic stream into the synthetic traffic stream and the customer traffic stream, and a traffic analyzer to analyze the separated synthetic traffic stream.

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 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 and system are provided for measuring the bandwidth of a network segment between a first location and a second location by generating a plurality of synthetic packets at the first location and marking each generated synthetic packet with a transmission timestamp indicative of a first clock time at which the synthetic packet is generated; transmitting each of the generated synthetic packets to the second location; receiving each synthetic packet at the second location and marking each received synthetic packet with a reception timestamp indicative of a second clock time at which the synthetic packet is received at the second location; calculating an inter-packet delay variation of the network segment based on the transmission timestamp and the reception timestamp of two or more synthetic packets; and deriving an available bandwidth of the network segment based on the calculated inter-packet delay variation.

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: 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: 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 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: 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 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 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: 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 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: 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 method is disclosed for the collection of performance metrics by establishing service operations administration and maintenance (OAM) sessions between an actuator and a plurality of reflectors in a communication network. Test packets from an actuator simultaneously reach a plurality of reflectors along a test path. Each single test packet results into a plurality of test results, one per reflector, with quasi-synchronous performance metrics to sectionalize a network and more efficiently isolate fault or performance problems without the need for additional test packets to isolate the issue. Another method is disclosed wherein an actuator generates and transmits a plurality of simultaneous test packets, one per NID device, resulting into a plurality of test results, one per reflector, with quasi-synchronous performance metrics to sectionalize a network and more efficiently isolate fault or performance problems without the need for additional test packets to isolate the issue.