Abstract: A disclosed method and device relate to defining a link aggregation group (LAG) media access control (MAC) address and assigning the LAG MAC address to two or more links to define a LAG. The LAG MAC address does not duplicate physical MAC addresses associated with the links in the LAG. Datagrams associated with the links in the LAG are routed based on the LAG MAC address.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring interface utilization. Bandwidth data for an interface is collected during a configurable time interval, and a peak utilization of the interface over the time interval is determined using a plurality of incremented policers to measure the collected bandwidth data. An implementation of which is system that includes a monitoring module configured to collect bandwidth data for an interface over a configurable time interval, a plurality of incremented policers configured to measure the collected bandwidth data, and an analysis module configured to determine a peak utilization of the interface over the time interval using the measurements of the plurality of incremented policers.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes setting a first oversubscription factor of a control plane for an interface, measuring forwarding plane utilization on the interface, and calculating a second oversubscription factor of the control plane for the interface using the measured forwarding plane utilization as compared with a target forwarding plane utilization on the interface. The method also includes determining whether to update the first oversubscription factor based upon the calculated second oversubscription factor.

Abstract: Exemplary carrier Ethernet service bandwidth allocation systems and methods are disclosed herein. An exemplary method includes a carrier Ethernet service system 1) receiving an Ethernet layer operation, administration, and management (“OAM”) protocol based message provided by a customer premises device to a network interface device over a user network interface (“UNI”), the Ethernet layer OAM protocol based message including a request to adjust an amount of bandwidth allocated to a carrier Ethernet service provided by the Ethernet service system to the customer premises device, and 2) adjusting, in response to the request, the amount of bandwidth allocated to the carrier Ethernet service. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: System and method for providing applets to remote devices in a communications network. A preferred embodiment includes a host device, which is the device from which the applet will be transferred, and a target device, which is the device to which the applet will be transferred. In one embodiment, the host device autonomously determines that an applet is to be pushed to the target device. The host device then determines the address of the target device and transmits the applet to the target device. Instructions and commands may be sent to the target device form the host, and the target device may transmit results to the host device. In another embodiment, the target device is customer premise equipment and/or a user device that requests an applet from the host device. The target device requests applets, for example, to perform service parameter verification, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, or the like.

Abstract: A system may include an optical bit error generator comprising a high instantaneous power light source. An optical coupler may couple an output of the optical bit error generator to a traffic fiber. A device under test receives a traffic signal via the traffic fiber. A performance monitor is coupled to the device under test to determine responsiveness of the device under test to a bit error condition simulated by the optical bit error generator, wherein the high instantaneous power light source in the optical bit error generator is configured based on a protocol of a traffic signal in the traffic fiber and the bit error condition.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing automated testing and trouble isolation of a communications link in an access network is described. Communications link testing may occur without taking the communications link out of service for the duration of the test.

Abstract: A device enables a disabled timer state for a link aggregation group (LAG) link if a disabled timer condition is determined for the LAG link, and enables a disabled state for the LAG link if a disabled condition is determined for the LAG link in the disabled timer state.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring and analyzing network traffic. Traffic is monitored during a configurable time interval. A number of bursts associated with the traffic are tracked. A measured traffic rate is generated based on the number of bursts occurring within the time interval. The measured traffic rate is compared with a committed rate to determine if the measured traffic rate exceeds the committed rate.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames.

Abstract: System and method for providing a layer 2 switch in the access network that switches based upon one or more carrier tags identifying customer traffic. Customer traffic conforming to any variety of different layer 1 or layer 2 protocols may be encapsulated and identified according to carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may determine how to handle the traffic by interpreting and manipulating the carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may be capable of switching TDM input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic, and switching packetized input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic. Handling classification values may also be processed by the layer 2 switch to affect prioritization of handling of encapsulated traffic.

Abstract: A method may include transmitting a first data burst and a second data burst to a circuit or network under test, the first data burst having a smaller size than the second data burst. The method may also include determining a first latency associated with the first data burst based on time information associated with the first data burst and determining a second latency associated with the second data burst based on time information associated with the second data burst. The method may further include calculating an estimated throughput of the circuit or network under test based on a difference in the first and second latencies, a difference in size for the first and second data bursts, and a first data rate at which the first and second data bursts were transmitted.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for providing access communications between customer locations and a core network service edge. Access flows are handled as carrier-tagged flows through a packet switched network comprising network elements that interpret and manipulate carrier tag values associated with traffic-bearing data frames.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring interface utilization. Bandwidth data for an interface is collected during a configurable time interval, and a peak utilization of the interface over the time interval is determined using a plurality of incremented policers to measure the collected bandwidth data. An implementation of which is system that includes a monitoring module configured to collect bandwidth data for an interface over a configurable time interval, a plurality of incremented policers configured to measure the collected bandwidth data, and an analysis module configured to determine a peak utilization of the interface over the time interval using the measurements of the plurality of incremented policers.

Abstract: System and method for providing a termination point for service emulation instances in an access network is provided. In an embodiment, the service emulation instances are implemented utilizing, for example, pseudowires. Communications to and from the access network are aggregated and transmitted via one or more pseudowires to a service emulation instance terminator. The service emulation instance terminator converts the traffic to its native form and, if necessary, converts the traffic to a different type of format or service. The service emulation instance terminator then frames the traffic for the appropriate type of service and transmits the traffic to the service edge. Traffic received from the service is removed prepended with a pseudowire label and aggregated with other traffic. The aggregated traffic is transmitted to the customer via the access network. If necessary, an interworking function may convert the traffic from one type of service to another type of service.

Abstract: An approach provides virtual circuit protection. Traffic is received at a network interface device configured to interface an Ethernet virtual circuit of a service provider transport network over a user network interface (UNI). The network interface device is configured as a demarcation point between a customer network and the service provider transport network. Circuit replication is performed over the virtual circuit to create a plurality of communication paths over the virtual circuit by assigning respective tags for independently switching the traffic over the communication paths. One of the communication paths is designated as a standby communication path.

Abstract: An approach is provided for monitoring interface utilization. Bandwidth data for an interface is collected during a configurable time interval, and a peak utilization of the interface over the time interval is determined using a plurality of incremented policers to measure the collected bandwidth data. An implementation of which is system that includes a monitoring module configured to collect bandwidth data for an interface over a configurable time interval, a plurality of incremented policers configured to measure the collected bandwidth data, and an analysis module configured to determine a peak utilization of the interface over the time interval using the measurements of the plurality of incremented policers.

Abstract: An approach is provided for auto-bandwidth adjusting bandwidth allocations for traffic-engineered tunnels used to carry traffic along a network. Traffic over the tunnel is sampled at a first interval period and at a second interval period, where the second interval period is shorter than the first interval period. A determination is made as to whether the sampled traffic taken using the second interval period is greater than the bandwidth allocation, and the bandwidth allocation is adjusted upward based upon a determination that the sampled traffic taken using the second interval period is greater than the bandwidth allocation. Also, a determination can be made as to whether the sampled traffic taken using the first interval period is less than the bandwidth allocation, and the bandwidth allocation can be adjusted downward based upon a determination that the sampled traffic taken using the first interval period is less than the bandwidth allocation.

Abstract: A system measures, at a network device, a first frame rate of frame-based transport based on a first frame size, and measures, at the network device, a second frame rate of the frame-based transport based on a second frame size, where the second frame size is different than the first frame size. The system determines per frame encapsulation overhead in the frame-based transport using the first frame rate, the first frame size, the second frame rate, and the second frame size. The system further determines total transport bandwidth associated with the frame-based transport using the first frame rate, the first frame size, the second frame rate, the second frame size, and the determined per frame encapsulation overhead.

Abstract: An approach is provided for auto-bandwidth adjusting bandwidth allocations for traffic-engineered tunnels used to carry traffic along a network. Traffic over the tunnel is sampled at a first interval period and at a second interval period, where the second interval period is shorter than the first interval period. A determination is made as to whether the sampled traffic taken using the second interval period is greater than the bandwidth allocation, and the bandwidth allocation is adjusted upward based upon a determination that the sampled traffic taken using the second interval period is greater than the bandwidth allocation. Also, a determination can be made as to whether the sampled traffic taken using the first interval period is less than the bandwidth allocation, and the bandwidth allocation can be adjusted downward based upon a determination that the sampled traffic taken using the first interval period is less than the bandwidth allocation.