Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to a method of publishing an element template from a first service provider to an administrative owner to determine an optimal end-to-end connectivity path from a source to a destination across at least one resource domain for data transport. The method includes determining, at the first service provider, adjacencies between a first resource domain of the first service provider and a second resource domain of a second service provider. The first service provider publishes to an administrative owner, an element template that identifies connectivity attributes, including adjacencies and adaptation capabilities of the first resource domain. The AO may develop a plurality of possible paths from a source end-point to a destination end-point to transmit data based on the element template from the first service provider and element templates from other service providers. The AO selects an optimal path from the plurality of possible paths.

Abstract: Example embodiments are directed to a method of publishing an element template from a first service provider to an administrative owner to determine an optimal end-to-end connectivity path from a source to a destination across at least one resource domain for data transport. The method includes determining, at the first service provider, adjacencies between a first resource domain of the first service provider and a second resource domain of a second service provider. The first service provider publishes to an administrative owner, an element template that identifies connectivity attributes, including adjacencies and adaptation capabilities of the first resource domain. The AO may develop a plurality of possible paths from a source end-point to a destination end-point to transmit data based on the element template from the first service provider and element templates from other service providers. The AO selects an optimal path from the plurality of possible paths.

Abstract: A method is described for transporting information in frames comprising header and payload information from a first network to a second network via a third network. The first and second networks are commonly managed but are independent of management of the third network. Network nodes generate respective headers for each outgoing frame from the node but completely copies payload from an incoming frame to the outgoing frames. Upon crossing a first boundary between the first and third networks, only a first part of the header is copied into the payload such that a reduced size header in the third network fits into space that would otherwise be occupied by a second part of the header that is not copied into the payload. Upon crossing a second boundary between the third and second networks, the headers are retrieved from the payload and used to generate header information in the second network.

Abstract: A method is described for transporting information in frames comprising header and payload information from a first network to a second network via a third network. The first and second networks are commonly managed but are independent of management of the third network. Network nodes generate respective headers for each outgoing frame from the node but completely copies payload from an incoming frame to the outgoing frames. Upon crossing a first boundary between the first and third networks, only a first part of the header is copied into the payload such that a reduced size header in the third network fits into space that would otherwise be occupied by a second part of the header that is not copied into the payload. Upon crossing a second boundary between the third and second networks, the headers are retrieved from the payload and used to generate header information in the second network.

Abstract: A system provides automatic protection switching in case of failure or degradation in a function. For example, a system node may have a working server function, a protection server function, one or more client functions, and a control function. In its baseline configuration, the working server function is active, meaning that it is operating on-line with respect to the client functions, while the protection server function is standby, meaning that it is either inactive (i.e., cold standby) or operating off-line with respect to the client functions (i.e., hot standby). The control function monitors the operations of the working server function, and, if a failure or degradation is detected, or if an externally generated switch command is received, the control function will (1) instruct the working server function to change its status from active to standby and (2) instruct the protection server function to change its status from standby to active.