Abstract: A network element, in a control plane enabled network, configured to retain a connection's home path while the connection is on an alternate path includes interfaces communicatively coupled to the network to form one or more links; circuitry communicatively coupled to the interfaces, wherein the circuitry is configured to route one or more connections which originate on the network element to the one or more links via the interfaces, wherein each of the one or more connections has an associated home path, and for a connection of the one of more connections which is not on its associated home path, reserve bandwidth for the connection through the control plane on the associated home path.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to mechanisms to protect hybrid networking equipment at a port level granularity and thereby provide capabilities to specify the protection of client services on a port-by-port basis. For example, in one embodiment, a Virtual Connection Point (VCP) may be established as a termination point for a transport-side network connection and configured as a Layer 1 bridge/select connection to switch among any one of a plurality of backplane Layer 1 termination points. The plurality of backplane Layer 1 termination points may be protected using a link aggregation group, wherein a Layer 2 switch may be established to direct packets between the link aggregation group and the VCP configured as the Layer 1 bridge/select connection.

Abstract: A network element, in a control plane enabled network, configured to retain a connection's home path while the connection is on an alternate path includes interfaces communicatively coupled to the network to form one or more links; circuitry communicatively coupled to the interfaces, wherein the circuitry is configured to route one or more connections which originate on the network element to the one or more links via the interfaces, wherein each of the one or more connections has an associated home path, and for a connection of the one of more connections which is not on its associated home path, advertise a virtual connection for the connection through the control plane to reserve the associated home path.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to mechanisms to protect hybrid networking equipment at a port level granularity and thereby provide capabilities to specify the protection of client services on a port-by-port basis. For example, in one embodiment, a Virtual Connection Point (VCP) may be established as a termination point for a transport-side network connection and configured as a Layer 1 bridge/select connection to switch among any one of a plurality of backplane Layer 1 termination points. The plurality of backplane Layer 1 termination points may be protected using a link aggregation group, wherein a Layer 2 switch may be established to direct packets between the link aggregation group and the VCP configured as the Layer 1 bridge/select connection.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for mesh restoration based on Associated Hop Designated Transit Lists (DTLs). The Associated Hop DTLs are calculated through a global restoration calculation (GRC) algorithm that can be run by a central controller in an offline manner. The restoration paths calculated by the GRC algorithm can then be pushed down to the originating nodes for each connection to utilize at the time of a given failure scenario. This GRC algorithm can be performed for each possible bundle failure in the network, where a bundle failure is determined by the set of all links which may fail together due to common shared risk, such as a common conduit or DWDM fiber. The globally calculated, contention free, restoration paths are then pushed down to each node in the network.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for the hierarchical mesh restoration of connections in an ASON or the like. These methods and systems provide a mesh restorable OTN server layer that carries an aggregate of mesh restorable SONET/SDH SNCs, without designating SONET/SDH/OTN hand-off ports or work/protect lines. Server layer SNCs are terminated on Virtual Trail Termination Points (VTTPs) on the NEs. These VTTPs maintain all of the attributes of physical Trail Termination Points (TTPs). The server routing protocol creates physical TTP interfaces at the server layer, and the server layer advertises bandwidth to the client layer routing protocol. A failure in the server layer results in the mesh restoration of an aggregate line, holding off the release of the individual client SNCs. Only when the server layer cannot restore are these individual client SNCs released.

Abstract: The present invention combines switching and control functions on a single module while avoiding requirements to synchronize working and standby switch configuration information. The present invention eliminates the idea of redundant working and standby control/switching modules and instead, distributes the switching/control functions across two (primary and secondary) modules, where in the nominal (not failed) case the primary module contains the active control component and the secondary module contains the active switching component. In the failed case, both the switching and control functions reside on one module.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for mesh restoration based on Associated Hop Designated Transit Lists (DTLs). The Associated Hop DTLs are calculated through a global restoration calculation (GRC) algorithm that can be run by a central controller in an offline manner. The restoration paths calculated by the GRC algorithm can then be pushed down to the originating nodes for each connection to utilize at the time of a given failure scenario. This GRC algorithm can be performed for each possible bundle failure in the network, where a bundle failure is determined by the set of all links which may fail together due to common shared risk, such as a common conduit or DWDM fiber. The globally calculated, contention free, restoration paths are then pushed down to each node in the network.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes methods and systems for the hierarchical mesh restoration of connections in an ASON or the like. These methods and systems provide a mesh restorable OTN server layer that carries an aggregate of mesh restorable SONET/SDH SNCs, without designating SONET/SDH/OTN hand-off ports or work/protect lines. Server layer SNCs are terminated on Virtual Trail Termination Points (VTTPs) on the NEs. These VTTPs maintain all of the attributes of physical Trail Termination Points (TTPs). The server routing protocol creates physical TTP interfaces at the server layer, and the server layer advertises bandwidth to the client layer routing protocol. A failure in the server layer results in the mesh restoration of an aggregate line, holding off the release of the individual client SNCs. Only when the server layer cannot restore are these individual client SNCs released.

Abstract: The present invention combines switching and control functions on a single module while avoiding requirements to synchronize working and standby switch configuration information. The present invention eliminates the idea of redundant working and standby control/switching modules and instead, distributes the switching/control functions across two (primary and secondary) modules, where in the nominal (not failed) case the primary module contains the active control component and the secondary module contains the active switching component. In the failed case, both the switching and control functions reside on one module.

Abstract: A metal-air cell is disclosed that provides high currents on an intermittent basis to electrical loads connected thereto. In one embodiment of the present invention, a restrictive membrane is effectively supported by the bottom of the cathode can, and is separated from an air cathode assembly disposed within the cell by an air reservoir. The air reservoir provides sufficient oxygen to the air cathode assembly during periods of high current drain upon the cell. Upon returning to low drain conditions, the air reservoir is gradually replenished by air flowing through the restrictive membrane at a controlled rate.