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: 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: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for reserving a connection's home path resources and restoring the connection on a link that includes a reserved priority bandwidth. A bandwidth advertisement indicating that the reserved priority bandwidth is available is analyzed and a restoration request requesting to route the connection on the link is sent. The reserved priority bandwidth is used to route the connection when the connection has a reserved home path on the link. When the connection has a reserved home path not on the link, a determination is made as to whether a normal priority bandwidth on the link is available and whether the connection is unrestorable on another link. The reserved priority bandwidth is used to temporarily route the connection when normal priority bandwidth on the link is unavailable and the connection is unrestorable on another link.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for programming connections through a multi-stage switch fabric. The present invention utilizes load-balancing, blocking recovery, background rebalancing, and rollback algorithms to select and manage connection balance on center stage switches in the multi-stage switch fabric for new and modified connections. The load-balancing algorithm attempts to spread the multi-connection slices across center stage switches as evenly as possible, to increase the probability that future multi-connection slices can be added without needing to rearrange existing slices. Advantageously, the present invention is efficient by making the best possible local decision for one multi-connection slice at a time, without considering other multi-connection slices that may also need center switch assignments. Additionally blocking recovery, rollback and background rebalancing features are also supported.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and system for reserving a connection's home path resources and restoring the connection on a link that includes a reserved priority bandwidth. A bandwidth advertisement indicating that the reserved priority bandwidth is available is analyzed and a restoration request requesting to route the connection on the link is sent. The reserved priority bandwidth is used to route the connection when the connection has a reserved home path on the link. When the connection has a reserved home path not on the link, a determination is made as to whether a normal priority bandwidth on the link is available and whether the connection is unrestorable on another link. The reserved priority bandwidth is used to temporarily route the connection when normal priority bandwidth on the link is unavailable and the connection is unrestorable on another link.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for abstracting a network topology into virtual links and supporting both generic and instantiated virtualized links for linking a virtualized topology with actual resources within a domain, providing security over network topology information, providing control over the allocation of resources, and reducing the complexity of advertising.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the implementation of a remote test access feature using virtual connection points and sub-network connections by the merge-and-split of flexible permanent virtual circuits. A sub-network connection is created between a remote test set and a connection termination point of a circuit of interest through the provision of two endpoints of interest. Subsequently, monitoring and management capabilities are established and operation, administration, and maintenance functions are performed at a centralized location using a network management system. The remote tap used may employ any protection scheme and mesh restore, as necessary, either manually or automatically, in the event of signal degrade or failure scenarios. The endpoint of the remote tap may be selectively changed, and the remote tap re-groomed for a different circuit of interest via a simple point-and-click.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for programming connections through a multi-stage switch fabric. The present invention utilizes load-balancing, blocking recovery, background rebalancing, and rollback algorithms to select and manage connection balance on center stage switches in the multi-stage switch fabric for new and modified connections. The load-balancing algorithm attempts to spread the multi-connection slices across center stage switches as evenly as possible, to increase the probability that future multi-connection slices can be added without needing to rearrange existing slices. Advantageously, the present invention is efficient by making the best possible local decision for one multi-connection slice at a time, without considering other multi-connection slices that may also need center switch assignments. Additionally blocking recovery, rollback and background rebalancing features are also supported.

Abstract: A method, system and egress switching node for maintaining a network connection in an optical network reduces the number of spans needed for reestablishing a network connection. The invention learns which channels are used by the network connection and propagates such channel assignment data to the switching nodes for storage therein. When a span failure occurs, a notification is sent to the switching nodes identifying which span has failed. The switch nodes use the notification and channel assignment data to perform protection switching such that the rerouted network connection selects the channel that was used by the network connection on the failed span. Likewise, the egress switching node uses the selected channel to drop the network connection from the protecting fibers. This enables a network connection to travel a shorter distance after a protection switch.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for the implementation of a remote test access feature using virtual connection points and sub-network connections by the merge-and-split of flexible permanent virtual circuits. The remote test access feature of the present invention represents a highly flexible and fully automated technique that utilizes and exploits a network cloud. A sub-network connection is created between a remote test set and a connection termination point of a circuit of interest through the provision of two endpoints of interest. Subsequently, monitoring and management capabilities are established and operation, administration, and maintenance functions are performed at a centralized location using a network management system. The remote tap used may employ any protection scheme and mesh restore, as necessary, either manually or automatically, in the event of signal degrade or failure scenarios.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for abstracting a network topology into virtual links and supporting both generic and instantiated virtualized links for linking a virtualized topology with actual resources within a domain, providing security over network topology information, providing control over the allocation of resources, and reducing the complexity of advertising.