Abstract: In an N+1 protection scheme for a router in a data or telecommunications network, a processor-based protection unit has a replica device handle, corresponding to each of the N working units, stored in the protection unit's local memory. Each replica device handle is an image of the connections provided by the corresponding working unit. In one implementation, upon detection of a failure of one of the working units, the router's controller unit sends a single command to instruct the protection unit to reconfigure itself using the corresponding locally stored replica device handle to assume the routing functions of the failed working unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for evaluating the throughput limit of a communication system, such as a network node or system. A throughput limit of a communication system is evaluated by receiving a request to allocate at least one connection of a given data type; obtaining an assigned weight for the at least one connection, wherein the assigned weight is based on the throughput limit and a processing limit indicating a throughput of the communication system for the given data type within a given time window; and determining whether to allocate the at least one connection of a given data type based on whether a sum of the assigned weights for each existing allocated connection for each data type exceeds the throughput limit. The assigned weight for a given data type can be subtracted from the sum upon receiving a request to de-allocate a connection.

Abstract: In an N+1 protection scheme for a router in a data or telecommunications network, a processor-based protection unit has a replica device handle, corresponding to each of the N working units, stored in the protection unit's local memory. Each replica device handle is an image of the connections provided by the corresponding working unit. In one implementation, upon detection of a failure of one of the working units, the router's controller unit sends a single command to instruct the protection unit to reconfigure itself using the corresponding locally stored replica device handle to assume the routing functions of the failed working unit.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for evaluating the throughput limit of a communication system, such as a network node or system. A throughput limit of a communication system is evaluated by receiving a request to allocate at least one connection of a given data type; obtaining an assigned weight for the at least one connection, wherein the assigned weight is based on the throughput limit and a processing limit indicating a throughput of the communication system for the given data type within a given time window; and determining whether to allocate the at least one connection of a given data type based on whether a sum of the assigned weights for each existing allocated connection for each data type exceeds the throughput limit. The assigned weight for a given data type can be subtracted from the sum upon receiving a request to de-allocate a connection.