Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for encoding and decoding a packet buffer for data exchange over a communications network, including parsing a data container definition file to determine a packet format; generating a code file based on the data container definition file; inserting the code file into a source tree of an application; compiling the source tree to generate an executable file; and executing the executable on a computing device in communication with the communications network, wherein the executable file encodes and decodes the packet buffer for data exchange over the communications network.

Abstract: A telemetry manager receives, from a network server, global data collection information about network components in an optical network device. The global data collection information includes identifiers for network nodes in the network components from which telemetry data are to be collected, and reporting frequency and encoding format for sending collected telemetry data to the network server. The telemetry manager identifies, from the global data collection information, local data collection information specified for a network component, and sends this information to a telemetry agent in the network component. The telemetry manager receives telemetry data generated by a network node of the network component, where the data is provided according to instructions in the local data collection information. The telemetry manager converts the telemetry data from its native format to an encoding format specified by the global data collection information, and sends the encoded telemetry data to the network server.

Abstract: A telemetry manager receives, from a network server, global data collection information about network components in an optical network device. The global data collection information includes identifiers for network nodes in the network components from which telemetry data are to be collected, and reporting frequency and encoding format for sending collected telemetry data to the network server. The telemetry manager identifies, from the global data collection information, local data collection information specified for a network component, and sends this information to a telemetry agent in the network component. The telemetry manager receives telemetry data generated by a network node of the network component, where the data is provided according to instructions in the local data collection information. The telemetry manager converts the telemetry data from its native format to an encoding format specified by the global data collection information, and sends the encoded telemetry data to the network server.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for encoding and decoding a packet buffer for data exchange over a communications network, including parsing a data container definition file to determine a packet format; generating a code file based on the data container definition file; inserting the code file into a source tree of an application; compiling the source tree to generate an executable file; and executing the executable on a computing device in communication with the communications network, wherein the executable file encodes and decodes the packet buffer for data exchange over the communications network.

Abstract: A unit test and automation framework (UTAF) system and method are disclosed for unit testing. A unit definition file that includes properties of the unit being tested may be compiled to generate a skeleton code that describes a structure of the unit and the interactions of the unit with other units. One or more interactions may be overridden to generate a unit production code for the unit. A unit testing (UT) engine may enable interactions between the unit and the other units to run test cases on the unit production code as part of unit testing. Various components of the UTAF system may provide commands to or perform functions for the UT engine to perform the unit testing, such as providing test commands, displaying statistics, providing interface messaging between the unit and the plurality of other units, provide commands for record and replay testing, and other information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for simulating a large network topology and characterizing network devices. the method includes generating a simulated open shortest path first (OSPF) network topology using a simulator device; generating link state advertisement (LSA) OSPF packets based on the simulated OSPF network topology using the simulator device; and communicating the OSPF packets to a gateway device for flooding a real OSPF network topology with the OSPF packets.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling during GMPLS sub-network connection (SNC) establishment. Additionally, methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling after GMPLS sub-network connection establishment, that is, for existing connections.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing network configuration data identifying one or more working path(s) configured to transport data between source and destination nodes, wherein multiple working paths are prioritized, and including at least one first diversity weight of a first value indicative of at least one communication link in the working path(s), and at least one second diversity weight of a second value indicative of at least one communication link outside of the working path(s); calculating a disjoint protection path with the network configuration data, the first diversity weight, and the second diversity weight; the disjoint protection path including at least the source node and the destination node and at least one communication link that is mutually exclusive from the at least one communication link of the first set; and outputting at least one setup signal to configure the disjoint protection path within the mesh network.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide systems, devices and methods for improving the efficient deployment and configuration of networking equipment within a network build-out. In certain embodiments of the invention, an iterative analysis of inter-node equipment placement and connectivity, and inter- and intra-node traffic flow is performed to identify a preferred deployment solution. This analysis of deployment optimization takes into account both configurations from a network node perspective as well as from a network system perspective. Deployment solutions are iteratively progressed and analyzed to determine a preferred solution based on both the cost of deployment and satisfaction of the network demands. In various embodiments of the invention, a baseline marker is generated from which the accuracy of the solution may be approximated that suggests to an engineer whether the deployment is approaching an optimal solution.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method for discovery of network elements, which are adjacent within the network data plane but may or may not be adjacent in the network control plane. In one embodiment of the present invention, digital network elements, with a plurality thereof having a lambda switching capability (hereinafter “LSC”) interface, is provided. A digital network element with an LSC interface originates and sends a local advertisement to its immediate control neighbor. Using this LSC originated advertisements; a neighboring network element may be discovered that is adjacent on the network data plane.

Abstract: Nodes and methods are disclosed for protection and restoration to protect against multiple failures for multiple paths involved for the same service in mesh networks, including, determining, by circuitry of a first node in a mesh network, a failure of a working path between the first node and a second node, wherein the second node, when triggered by the failure of the working path, switches to a protection path. Methods further include establishing through transmission of at least one signal by circuitry of the first node at least one recovery path, for example, a restored-working path, after determining the failure of the at least one working path, wherein the at least one restored-working path carries a duplicate of the data traffic transmitted on the protection path in case of failure of the protection path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for accessing network configuration data identifying one or more working path(s) configured to transport data between source and destination nodes, wherein multiple working paths are prioritized, and including at least one first diversity weight of a first value indicative of at least one communication link in the working path(s), and at least one second diversity weight of a second value indicative of at least one communication link outside of the working path(s); calculating a disjoint protection path with the network configuration data, the first diversity weight, and the second diversity weight; the disjoint protection path including at least the source node and the destination node and at least one communication link that is mutually exclusive from the at least one communication link of the first set; and outputting at least one setup signal to configure the disjoint protection path within the mesh network.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of receiving, with circuitry at a first node, a signal indicative of a request to set up an optical channel data unit label switched path between the first node and a second node in a network. Time slots for a plurality of types of signals to be transmitted from the first node to the second node are reserved, and a set up message is transmitted from the first node to the second node. The set up message identifies the plurality of signal types and the reserved time slots. The optical channel data unit label switched path is then provided between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: A network device includes a multi-chassis system in which each chassis includes a RSVP-TE protocol stack that may provide RSVP-TE services for LSP tunnels associated with each chassis. The multi-chassis system may include an administrative chassis. The administrative chassis may forward RSVP messages to other chassis of the network device. The administrative chassis may encapsulate the RSVP messages with a chassis address. The other chassis may de-encapsulate the RSVP messages and process the RSVP messages according to the RSVP-TE protocol. The administrative chassis may obtain session information associated with other chassis based on RSVP messages received. The administrative chassis may manage adjacency mechanisms and failure and recovery mechanisms. The multi-chassis system including the distributed RSVP-TE protocol stacks may minimize scalability issues and improve performance when high-capacity routing and/or switching services are needed.

Abstract: Nodes and methods are disclosed for protection and restoration to protect against multiple failures for multiple paths involved for the same service in mesh networks, including, determining, by circuitry of a first node in a mesh network, a failure of a working path between the first node and a second node, wherein the second node, when triggered by the failure of the working path, switches to a protection path. Methods further include establishing through transmission of at least one signal by circuitry of the first node at least one recovery path, for example, a restored-working path, after determining the failure of the at least one working path, wherein the at least one restored-working path carries a duplicate of the data traffic transmitted on the protection path in case of failure of the protection path.

Abstract: A device may receive information that identifies a data item and a data item operation. The device may store a first sequence identifier, a data item reference that references the data item, and an operation reference that references the operation. The first sequence identifier may reference the data item and operation references, and may indicate an order in which the first sequence identifier is stored. The device may store the data item in a memory location, may store an identification of the memory location, may remove a reference to the data item by a previous sequence identifier, and/or may add the data item, may modify the data item, or may delete the data item depending on whether the operation is an add operation, a modify operation, or a delete operation. The device may transmit, to a slave device, the first sequence identifier, the data item reference, and the operation reference.

Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus and method to compute a route through a network having both digital nodes and optical express-thru nodes. According to various embodiments of the invention, a network topology is generated in which both digital nodes, optical express-thru nodes, and optical nodes are identified, and both physical and virtual links between these nodes are mapped. The network connectivity is identified, at least in part, by broadcasting a local link state advertisement and optical carrier group binding information to neighboring nodes, which enables both physical and virtual neighboring nodes to be identified. Once a topology is generated, both physical and virtual link characteristics are analyzed to ensure link diversity for traffic through the network and load balancing functionality across the network.

Abstract: Methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling during GMPLS sub-network connection (SNC) establishment. Additionally, methods and nodes are disclosed for OAM configuring one or more tandem connection monitoring layers through GMPLS signaling after GMPLS sub-network connection establishment, that is, for existing connections.

Abstract: A method comprising the steps of receiving, with circuitry at a first node, a signal indicative of a request to set up an optical channel data unit label switched path between the first node and a second node in a network. Time slots for a plurality of types of signals to be transmitted from the first node to the second node are reserved, and a set up message is transmitted from the first node to the second node. The set up message identifies the plurality of signal types and the reserved time slots. The optical channel data unit label switched path is then provided between the first and second nodes.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for dynamic intra node rerouting is described. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-stage architecture within a network node is provided in which various module cards, including intermediary module cards, are interconnected within a chassis. A connection is established between a first module card and a second module card through an intermediate module card so that traffic may flow internally within the chassis. Failure detection and intra-node recovery are provided within the node by provisioning an intra-node compensated route around a failed module.