Abstract: A system for and method of automatic discovery and configuration of network interface devices is presented. A network interface device (NID) may be included a pre-configured maintenance entity end point (MEP), whereby upon use, the NID may begin sending at least one discovery message to a provider edge device, each discovery message including an organizationally unique identifier. The provider edge device may strip the discovery message(s) to determine the message content, which may then be forwarded to a NIS management system. The NID management system may then identify an identification number of the NID, determine where the NID is installed and send any configuration data to the NID via the provider edge device to configure the NID.

Abstract: A master network interface device (NID) receives a first packet flow associated with a particular customer via a first link of a link aggregation group (LAG). The master NID also receives, from a non-master NID, an indication of a second packet flow, associated with the particular customer, that are traversing a second link of the LAG. The master NID applies collective rate limiting criteria to the first packet flow and to the second packet flow, such that the collective rate limiting criteria enforces a SLA rate for the particular customer. The master NID forwards at least some of the first packet flow via the first link, based on the rate limiting criteria as applied to the first packet flow. The master NID also sends, to the non-master network interface device, an indication of the rate limiting criteria as applied to the second packet flow.

Abstract: Network connectivity management includes monitoring a circuit, wherein the circuit is a virtual connection between multiple networks via a provider core network. A device receives a plurality of network management messages associated with the circuit, and a determination is made regarding whether the circuit is experiencing a connectivity issue based on the network management messages. When it is determined that the circuit is experiencing a connectivity issue, then certain actions can be initiated.

Abstract: A method may include receiving a message from a first Ethernet interface in a second Ethernet interface, wherein the message includes a first attribute indicative of an Ethernet service at the first interface according to a first operation, administration, or management (OAM) protocol. The method may further include mapping the first attribute to a second attribute, wherein the second attribute is in accordance with a second OAM protocol different than the first OAM protocol. The method may further include performing an operation at the second interface based on the second attribute.

Abstract: An approach for providing latency measurements for a communication path of a transmission network is described. Measurement of latency associated with one or more communication paths of a transmission network is initiated. An increase in the latency within the transmission network is detected based on the latency measurement. One or more secondary communication paths of the transmission network are determined to address the latency increase. One of the secondary communication paths is selected according to a latency threshold.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and computer-readable storage medium are provided for calculating an estimated throughput requirement of a network, such as to facilitate selecting the minimum bandwidth, maximum bandwidth or some other appropriate bandwidth for providing network services to a customer accessing that network. In this regard, a method of calculating a throughput requirement of a network includes receiving a bandwidth requirement. The method also includes calculating a data link-layer frame rate requirement based on the bandwidth requirement and a frame size, where the calculated frame rate requirement is limited by a line rate for transmission of data packets across a core network. In addition, the method includes calculating a data link-layer throughput requirement based on the calculated frame rate requirement and the frame size.

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 adjusting network interface metrics to optimize transmissions across a network. A measurement of performance of a network interface is made, wherein the network interface is configured to provide traffic across an optical network. A determination is made regarding whether the measured performance satisfies a predetermined threshold. A network metric value of the network interface is adjusted if the measured performance of the network interface satisfies the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: System and method for detecting and reporting an error in communications with customer premise equipment. A preferred embodiment comprises monitoring the communications link between an access device and customer premise equipment located on customer premises. If a communications link fails, or some other condition occurs, an error signal is transmitted to the access network to notify downstream network elements of the error condition. In one embodiment, an access device is communicatively coupled to a demarcation device via an Ethernet link. If a loss of link occurs on the Ethernet link, an error signal, such as an alarm indicator signal, is transmitted through the network.

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. Time-division multiplexed (TDM) signals are transported as carrier-tagged flows between customer premise equipment that communicates using TDM signals and a service edge that communicates using TDM signals.

Abstract: A master network interface device (NID) receives a first packet flow associated with a particular customer via a first link of a link aggregation group (LAG). The master NID also receives, from a non-master NID, an indication of a second packet flow, associated with the particular customer, that are traversing a second link of the LAG. The master NID applies collective rate limiting criteria to the first packet flow and to the second packet flow, such that the collective rate limiting criteria enforces a SLA rate for the particular customer. The master NID forwards at least some of the first packet flow via the first link, based on the rate limiting criteria as applied to the first packet flow. The master NID also sends, to the non-master network interface device, an indication of the rate limiting criteria as applied to the second packet flow.

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: A system and method is provided for managing access communications between the service edge of a communications service provider and a customer. Access communications are carried in the form of carrier-tagged flows, the communications traffic being appended with carrier tags having significance to handling of the traffic through access network elements. A building aggregation system is provided which couples to customer premise equipment and interfaces customer flows to carrier-tagged flows used in the access network.

Abstract: An access device includes a first port configured to communicatively couple to a network node via a communications link, with the communications link having a plurality of information flows. At least one of the flows is configured as a maintenance and control flow and at least one of the flows is configured to carry customer data. The access device has a second port configured to communicatively couple to one or more demarcation devices via another communications link, and the demarcation device(s) is communicatively coupled to one or more customer premise equipment (CPE). A processing unit is configured to respond to commands received in the maintenance and control flow and to transmit access device information on the maintenance and control flow.

Abstract: A method may include forming a first path from a first node to a second node and transmitting data via the first path. The method also includes measuring a performance parameter associated with transmitting data via the first path and determining whether the measured performance parameter meet a required performance parameter. The method also includes sending a notification to a customer associated with the first path when the measured performance parameter does not meet the required performance parameter, where the notification indicates that the first path is unavailable.

Abstract: A bit error generating device includes a light source, an input device, and a control processor. The control processor includes logic configured to: receive protocol or bitrate information regarding a live traffic signal via the input device; determine bit error simulation signal parameters based on the received protocol or bitrate information; configure the light source to generate the bit error simulation signal based on the bit error simulation signal parameters; and instruct the light source to inject the bit error simulation signal into an optical fiber carrying the live traffic signal.

Abstract: A system for and method of automatic discovery and configuration of network interface devices is presented. A network interface device (NID) may be included a pre-configured maintenance entity end point (MEP), whereby upon use, the NID may begin sending at least one discovery message to a provider edge device, each discovery message including an organizationally unique identifier. The provider edge device may strip the discovery message(s) to determine the message content, which may then be forwarded to a NIS management system. The NID management system may then identify an identification number of the NID, determine where the NID is installed and send any configuration data to the NID via the provider edge device to configure the NID.

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: An approach is provided for auto-bandwidth adjustment of allocated bandwidth for a traffic tunnel over a network. A determination is made regarding a traffic load over the tunnel, where the tunnel meters traffic in accordance with the bandwidth allocation. A determination is made regarding whether the traffic load triggers an adjustment threshold, where the adjustment threshold is set to provide a desired headroom below the bandwidth allocation. And the bandwidth allocation is adjusted when the adjustment threshold is triggered to provide the desired headroom between the adjusted bandwidth allocation and the traffic load.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for managing access communications between the service edge of a communications service provider and a customer. Access communications are carried in the form of carrier-tagged flows, the communications traffic being appended with carrier tags having significance to handling of the traffic through access network elements. A building aggregation system is provided which couples to customer premise equipment and interfaces customer flows to carrier-tagged flows used in the access network.