Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically upgrading a license in a communication network are provided. In one embodiment, a network device in communication with a license server may be configured with a processing device and a memory device configured to store a computer program having instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to analyze a communication path between first and second nodes of a communication system and analyze a first license agreement having a first set of constraints regarding communication between the first and second nodes. Responsive to determining that the communication path is not allowable under the first set of constraints of the first license agreement, the instructions may further cause the processing device to upgrade the first license agreement to a second license agreement having a second set of constraints that are less-restrictive than the first set of constraints regarding communication between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically upgrading a license in a communication network are provided. In one embodiment, a network device in communication with a license server may be configured with a processing device and a memory device configured to store a computer program having instructions that, when executed, cause the processing device to analyze a communication path between first and second nodes of a communication system and analyze a first license agreement having a first set of constraints regarding communication between the first and second nodes. Responsive to determining that the communication path is not allowable under the first set of constraints of the first license agreement, the instructions may further cause the processing device to upgrade the first license agreement to a second license agreement having a second set of constraints that are less-restrictive than the first set of constraints regarding communication between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fast restoration in a network using a control plane include detecting a failure on a link associated with the node; and providing failure information through in-band data path overhead of an affected connection, wherein the in-band data path overhead is sent over a fast path, wherein the failure information is received at an originating node of the affected connection via the fast path, prior to the originating node receiving control plane signaling via a slow path relative to the fast path.

Abstract: Systems and methods with a service operating in a network between an originating node and a terminating node include, responsive to detection of a fault on a service, determining a first snapshot of information at each of the originating node and the terminating node; responsive to detection of clearing of the fault, determining a second snapshot of information at each of the originating node and the terminating node; and utilizing the first snapshot of information at each of the originating node and the terminating node and the second snapshot of information at each of the originating node and the terminating node to determine packet disruption information for the service based on the fault and the clearing of the fault.

Abstract: Systems and methods with a service operating in a network between an originating node and a terminating node include, responsive to detection of a fault on a service, determining a first snapshot of information at each of the originating node and the terminating node; responsive to detection of clearing of the fault, determining a second snapshot of information at each of the originating node and the terminating node; and utilizing the first snapshot of information at each of the originating node and the terminating node and the second snapshot of information at each of the originating node and the terminating node to determine packet disruption information for the service based on the fault and the clearing of the fault.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically accommodating one or more connections associated with a network resource targeted for maintenance in a network include receiving a request identifying the network resource for the maintenance; responsive to the network resource carrying no traffic, blocking the network resource during the maintenance; and, responsive to the network resource carrying traffic, attempting local recovery on all connections of the traffic to move the connections off of the network resource based on action at the local node, and, for the connections unable to locally recover, performing a network action through a control plane in the network to move the connections unable to locally recover off of the network resource.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic adjustment of a connection's priority in a network include configuring the connection with a dynamic priority and setting a current priority based on one or more factors, wherein the connection is a Layer 0 connection, a Layer 1 connection, and a combination thereof; detecting an event in the network requiring a change to the current priority, wherein the event changes the one or more factors; and causing a change in the current priority of the connection based on the event.

Abstract: A method for establishing an alternate pathway to an endpoint that may determine that a network connection is lost between a first network element and an application server. The method may select a second network element from a virtual network operating on an optical network. The second network element may include a network connection over the optical network to the application server, and a network connection to the first network element over the virtual network. The method may designate the second network element to act as a network proxy to the first network element. The first network element may use the second network element as the network proxy for receiving data over the virtual network. The method may receive data from the application server at the first network element using the second network element as the network proxy.

Abstract: A method, in a network element, for detecting and propagating resizability information of an Optical channel Data Unit flex (ODUflex) connection includes receiving resizability information in overhead associated with the ODUflex connection, wherein the resizability information indicates a number of available tributary slots and whether the ODUflex connection is symmetric; and adjusting the resizability information based on a change in the available tributary slots due to a bandwidth change at the network element. The systems and methods include a solution to communicate, in real time, the resizability information of an ODUflex connection utilizing the associated data path to carry it instead of the management/control plane.

Abstract: Systems and methods for automatically accommodating one or more connections associated with a network resource targeted for maintenance in a network include receiving a request identifying the network resource for the maintenance; responsive to the network resource carrying no traffic, blocking the network resource during the maintenance; and, responsive to the network resource carrying traffic, attempting local recovery on all connections of the traffic to move the connections off of the network resource based on action at the local node, and, for the connections unable to locally recover, performing a network action through a control plane in the network to move the connections unable to locally recover off of the network resource.

Abstract: A method to avoid sympathetic switches in path switching protection due to client protection switching includes monitoring a drop side Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM) entity and a line side TCM entity for a connection, wherein the drop side TCM is provisioned between a drop port of the node and a second drop port of a corresponding node, and wherein the line side TCM entity is provisioned between a plurality of line ports of the node and a second plurality of line ports of the corresponding node; responsive to detecting defects in both the drop side TCM entity and the line side TCM entity on a working line, implementing path protection switching of the working line; and, responsive to detecting defects only in the drop side TCM entity, implementing path protection switching of the working line responsive to persistence of the defects.

Abstract: A method to avoid sympathetic switches in path switching protection due to client protection switching includes monitoring a drop side Tandem Connection Monitoring (TCM) entity and a line side TCM entity for a connection, wherein the drop side TCM is provisioned between a drop port of the node and a second drop port of a corresponding node, and wherein the line side TCM entity is provisioned between a plurality of line ports of the node and a second plurality of line ports of the corresponding node; responsive to detecting defects in both the drop side TCM entity and the line side TCM entity on a working line, implementing path protection switching of the working line; and, responsive to detecting defects only in the drop side TCM entity, implementing path protection switching of the working line responsive to persistence of the defects.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamic adjustment of a connection's priority in a network include configuring the connection with a dynamic priority and setting a current priority based on one or more factors, wherein the connection is a Layer 0 connection, a Layer 1 connection, and a combination thereof; detecting an event in the network requiring a change to the current priority, wherein the event changes the one or more factors; and causing a change in the current priority of the connection based on the event.

Abstract: A method, a controller, and a network include determining an opportunity cost metric for each of a plurality of links in a network including a plurality of nodes, wherein the opportunity cost metric comprises a future constraint reflecting expectations for growth on currently established connections on each link of the plurality of links; receiving a request for a new connection between two nodes of the plurality of nodes in the network; and utilizing a constraint-based routing algorithm to determine a path for the new connection between the two nodes, wherein the constraint-based routing algorithm determines the path through the plurality of nodes via the plurality of links based on a plurality of constraints including the opportunity cost metric.

Abstract: A method, a controller, and a network include determining an opportunity cost metric for each of a plurality of links in a network including a plurality of nodes, wherein the opportunity cost metric comprises a future constraint reflecting expectations for growth on currently established connections on each link of the plurality of links; receiving a request for a new connection between two nodes of the plurality of nodes in the network; and utilizing a constraint-based routing algorithm to determine a path for the new connection between the two nodes, wherein the constraint-based routing algorithm determines the path through the plurality of nodes via the plurality of links based on a plurality of constraints including the opportunity cost metric.

Abstract: A method for establishing an alternate pathway to an endpoint that may determine that a network connection is lost between a first network element and an application server. The method may select a second network element from a virtual network operating on an optical network. The second network element may include a network connection over the optical network to the application server, and a network connection to the first network element over the virtual network. The method may designate the second network element to act as a network proxy to the first network element. The first network element may use the second network element as the network proxy for receiving data over the virtual network. The method may receive data from the application server at the first network element using the second network element as the network proxy.

Abstract: Systems and methods for fast restoration in a network using a control plane include detecting a failure on a link associated with the node; and providing failure information through in-band data path overhead of an affected connection, wherein the in-band data path overhead is sent over a fast path, wherein the failure information is received at an originating node of the affected connection via the fast path, prior to the originating node receiving control plane signaling via a slow path relative to the fast path.

Abstract: A method, in a network element, for detecting and propagating resizability information of an Optical channel Data Unit flex (ODUflex) connection includes receiving resizability information in overhead associated with the ODUflex connection, wherein the resizability information indicates a number of available tributary slots and whether the ODUflex connection is symmetric; and adjusting the resizability information based on a change in the available tributary slots due to a bandwidth change at the network element. The systems and methods include a solution to communicate, in real time, the resizability information of an ODUflex connection utilizing the associated data path to carry it instead of the management/control plane.