Abstract: A network element implemented method includes receiving an Ethernet connection at a first rate, transmitting the Ethernet connection at a second rate, monitoring a buffer fill associated with the Ethernet connection, and periodically transmitting pause frames to a device associated with the Ethernet connection, wherein the pause frames include a determined optimal pause quanta value based on the first rate, the second rate, and the buffer fill. A network element includes a first port receiving an Ethernet connection at a first rate, a second port transmitting the Ethernet connection at a second rate, and monitor circuitry configured to monitor a buffer fill associated with the Ethernet connection and cause the first port to periodically transmit pause frames, wherein the pause frames include a determined optimal pause quanta value based on the first rate, the second rate, and the buffer fill.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for geographically-diverse redundant servers and the like interconnected via wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems with managed path differential delay of the WDM systems. The present disclosure provides transport systems and methods incorporating absolute time references, such as global positioning system (GPS) time references and/or the like, and selective buildout delays, such as first-in, first-out (FIFO) buildout delays and/or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the transport systems and methods of the present invention are used in conjunction with the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) Geographically-Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS) integrated, automated application and data availability solution to meet and/or exceed the associated 10 microseconds transmit/receive path differential delay requirement. Other comparable uses are also contemplated herein, as will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Abstract: A network element implemented method includes receiving an Ethernet connection at a first rate, transmitting the Ethernet connection at a second rate, monitoring a buffer fill associated with the Ethernet connection, and periodically transmitting pause frames to a device associated with the Ethernet connection, wherein the pause frames include a determined optimal pause quanta value based on the first rate, the second rate, and the buffer fill. A network element includes a first port receiving an Ethernet connection at a first rate, a second port transmitting the Ethernet connection at a second rate, and monitor circuitry configured to monitor a buffer fill associated with the Ethernet connection and cause the first port to periodically transmit pause frames, wherein the pause frames include a determined optimal pause quanta value based on the first rate, the second rate, and the buffer fill.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Optical Transport Network (OTN) hierarchy that supports full transparency for both Ethernet and Telecom signals. The present invention defines new rates and mapping/multiplexing methods to adapt transparent 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GBE) (255/238 and 255/237) and 10 Gigabit Fibre Chanel (10 GFC) (255/237) to Optical Channel Transport Unit-3 (OTU3) at a higher rate. Additionally, the present invention defines new rates and mapping/multiplexing methods to adapt future transparent 100 GBE into an Optical Channel Transport Unit-4-extended (OTU4e) which is an OTU4 at a higher rate to support full transparency.

Abstract: The present invention provides byte-interleaving systems and methods for Optical Transport Unit N (OTUN) (i.e. Optical Transport Unit 4 (OTU4)) and 100 Gb/s (100 G) optical transport enabling multi-level optical transmission. The byte-interleaving systems and methods of the present invention support the multiplexing of sub-rate clients, such as 10 Gb/s (10 G) clients, 40 Gb/s (40 G) clients, etc., into two 50 Gb/s (50 G) logical flows, for example, that can be forward error correction (FEC) encoded and carried on a single wavelength to provide useful, efficient, and cost-effective 100 G optical transport today. Signaling format support allows these two 50 G logical flows to be forward compatible with an evolving OTU4 and 100 G signaling format without waiting for optical and electronic technology advancement. Signaling format support also allows an evolving standard 100 G logical flow (i.e. OTU4, 100 Gb/s Ethernet (100 GbE), etc.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for geographically-diverse redundant servers and the like interconnected via wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) systems with managed path differential delay of the WDM systems. The present disclosure provides transport systems and methods incorporating absolute time references, such as global positioning system (GPS) time references and/or the like, and selective buildout delays, such as first-in, first-out (FIFO) buildout delays and/or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the transport systems and methods of the present invention are used in conjunction with the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) Geographically-Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS) integrated, automated application and data availability solution to meet and/or exceed the associated 10 microseconds transmit/receive path differential delay requirement. Other comparable uses are also contemplated herein, as will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides transport systems and methods incorporating absolute time references, such as global positioning system (GPS) time references and/or the like, and selective buildout delays, such as first-in, first-out (FIFO) buildout delays and/or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the transport systems and methods of the present invention are used in conjunction with the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) Geographically-Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS) integrated, automated application and data availability solution to meet and/or exceed the associated 10 microseconds transmit/receive path differential delay requirement. Other comparable uses are also contemplated herein, as will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Abstract: An arrangement that allows transmission of client signals with higher clock fidelity is achieved by developing a phase offset measure at an ingress node, communicating it to the egress node, and recovering the client's clock from the received data and from the received phase-offset information. The ability to recover the client's clock with high fidelity is enhanced by adaptive pointer processing in intermediate nodes and the egress node of the network that the client's signal traverses. The adaptive pointer processing filters incoming pointers from upstream nodes and injects new positive and negative pointer justifications in excess of what is minimally necessary to allow them to be filtered by successive nodes and insure proper transmission over a network that employs a protocol involving framing layer frames embedded in communication layer frames. Illustratively, the network protocol is an extended ITU Recommendation G.709 Digital Wrapper protocol, arranged to employ frames of 15240 columns by four rows.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for mapping and multiplexing wider clock tolerance signals in Optical Transport Network (OTN) transponders and multiplexers. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention allows wide tolerance signals, such as a 10 GbE with a ±100 PPM clock tolerance, to be 100% transparently mapped asynchronously into OTU2-LAN rate transport signals. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention allows wide tolerance signals, such as a 10 GbE with a ±100 PPM clock tolerance, to be 100% transparently multiplexed asynchronously in to OTU3-LAN rate transport signals. The present invention utilizes extra Negative Justification Opportunities (NJO) in either unused OPUk overhead or in OPUk payload area and Positive Justification Opportunities (PJO) in OPUk payload area. Advantageously, the extra NJO and PJO provide additional bandwidth for client data rate offsets beyond OTN specifications.

Abstract: A network element for incorporating in nodes of a network that is a transparent, subwavelength networks. The element is configurable and adapted to support an arbitrary protocol, with protocol-specific monitoring features as well as protocol-independent add/drop capability. An arrangement that allows transmission of client signals with higher clock fidelity is achieved by developing a phases offset measure at an ingress node, communicating it to the egress node, and recovering the client's clock from the received data and from the received phase-offset information. The ability to recover the client's clock with high fidelity is enhanced by modified pointer processing in intermediate nodes of the network that the client's signal traverses. The pointer processing is modified to inject positive and negative justifications in excess of what is minimally necessary to insure proper transmission over a network that employs a protocol involving framing layer frames embedded in communication layer frames.

Abstract: The present invention provides byte-interleaving systems and methods for Optical Transport Unit N (OTUN) (i.e. Optical Transport Unit 4 (OTU4)) and 100 Gb/s (100 G) optical transport enabling multi-level optical transmission. The byte-interleaving systems and methods of the present invention support the multiplexing of sub-rate clients, such as 10 Gb/s (10 G) clients, 40 Gb/s (40 G) clients, etc., into two 50 Gb/s (50 G) logical flows, for example, that can be forward error correction (FEC) encoded and carried on a single wavelength to provide useful, efficient, and cost-effective 100 G optical transport today. Signaling format support allows these two 50 G logical flows to be forward compatible with an evolving OTU4 and 100 G signaling format without waiting for optical and electronic technology advancement. Signaling format support also allows an evolving standard 100 G logical flow (i.e. OTU4, 100 Gb/s Ethernet (100 GbE), etc.

Abstract: An arrangement that allows transmission of client signals with higher clock fidelity is achieved by developing a phase offset measure at an ingress node, communicating it to the egress node, and recovering the client's clock from the received data and from the received phase-offset information. The ability to recover the client's clock with high fidelity is enhanced by adaptive pointer processing in intermediate nodes and the egress node of the network that the client's signal traverses. The adaptive pointer processing filters incoming pointers from upstream nodes and injects new positive and negative pointer justifications in excess of what is minimally necessary to allow them to be filtered by successive nodes and insure proper transmission over a network that employs a protocol involving framing layer frames embedded in communication layer frames. Illustratively, the network protocol is an extended ITU Recommendation G.709 Digital Wrapper protocol, arranged to employ frames of 15240 columns by four rows.

Abstract: The present invention provides an Optical Transport Network (OTN) hierarchy that supports full transparency for both Ethernet and Telecom signals. The present invention defines new rates and mapping/multiplexing methods to adapt transparent 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GBE) (255/238 and 255/237) and 10 Gigabit Fibre Chanel (10 GFC) (255/237) to Optical Channel Transport Unit-3 (OTU3) at a higher rate. Additionally, the present invention defines new rates and mapping/multiplexing methods to adapt future transparent 100 GBE into an Optical Channel Transport Unit-4-extended (OTU4e) which is an OTU4 at a higher rate to support full transparency.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for mapping and multiplexing wider clock tolerance signals in Optical Transport Network (OTN) transponders and multiplexers. In one exemplary embodiment, the present invention allows wide tolerance signals, such as a 10 GbE with a ±100 PPM clock tolerance, to be 100% transparently mapped asynchronously into OTU2-LAN rate transport signals. In another exemplary embodiment, the present invention allows wide tolerance signals, such as a 10 GbE with a ±100 PPM clock tolerance, to be 100% transparently multiplexed asynchronously in to OTU3-LAN rate transport signals. The present invention utilizes extra Negative Justification Opportunities (NJO) in either unused OPUk overhead or in OPUk payload area and Positive Justification Opportunities (PJO) in OPUk payload area. Advantageously, the extra NJO and PJO provide additional bandwidth for client data rate offsets beyond OTN specifications.

Abstract: An arrangement that allows transmission of client signals with higher clock fidelity is achieved by developing a phase offset measure at an ingress node, communicating it to the egress node, and recovering the client's clock from the received data and from the received phase-offset information. The ability to recover the client's clock with high fidelity is enhanced by adaptive pointer processing in intermediate nodes and the egress node of the network that the client's signal traverses. The adaptive pointer processing filters incoming pointers from upstream nodes and injects new positive and negative pointer justifications in excess of what is minimally necessary to allow them to be filtered by successive nodes and insure proper transmission over a network that employs a protocol involving framing layer frames embedded in communication layer frames. Illustratively, the network protocol is an extended ITU Recommendation G.709 Digital Wrapper protocol, arranged to employ frames of 15240 columns by four rows.

Abstract: In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides transport systems and methods incorporating absolute time references, such as global positioning system (GPS) time references and/or the like, and selective buildout delays, such as first-in, first-out (FIFO) buildout delays and/or the like. In one exemplary embodiment, the transport systems and methods of the present invention are used in conjunction with the International Business Machine Corporation (IBM) Geographically-Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS) integrated, automated application and data availability solution to meet and/or exceed the associated 10 microseconds transmit/receive path differential delay requirement. Other comparable uses are also contemplated herein, as will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Abstract: The present invention provides telecommunications transport methods and systems for the transparent mapping/demapping of client data signals without the insertion/deletion of idle characters for client data signal rate adaptation. These methods and systems include mapping an incoming client data signal to and demapping an outgoing client data signal from a transport frame comprising: a first segment that is dedicated to client data; a second segment that is dedicated to fixed stuff, wherein the fixed stuff comprises, for example, network management information; a third segment that is dedicated to justification data for supporting a client data signal rate adaptation function; and a fourth segment that is dedicated to justification control information for indicating whether the third segment is used for client data or fixed stuff, wherein the justification control information is redundant for error protection purposes.

Abstract: An Optical Transport Network (OTN) (comprising a number of OTN nodes) uses an Internet Protocol (IP) based control plane (out-of-band signaling on a separate wavelength). Each OTN node of the IP-based control plane performs dual-feeding and dual-selecting of signaling messages on diverse signaling paths. The IP-based control plane establishes a pair of physically disjoint signaling paths between every set of neighboring OTN nodes (pre-computed and pre-established physically disjoint primary and secondary message paths in the IP-based control plane).

Abstract: An arrangement that allows transmission of client signals with higher clock fidelity is achieved by developing a phase offset measure at an ingress node, communicating it to the egress node, and recovering the client's clock from the received data and from the received phase-offset information. The ability to recover the client's clock with high fidelity is enhanced by adaptive pointer processing in intermediate nodes and the egress node of the network that the client's signal traverses. The adaptive pointer processing filters incoming pointers from upstream nodes and injects new positive and negative pointer justifications in excess of what is minimally necessary to allow them to be filtered by successive nodes and insure proper transmission over a network that employs a protocol involving framing layer frames embedded in communication layer frames. Illustratively, the network protocol is an extended ITU Recommendation G.709 Digital Wrapper protocol, arranged to employ frames of 15240 columns by four rows.

Abstract: In an optical telecommunications network in accordance with the principles of the present invention, a link connection undergoes an automatic port recognition process, whereby the port binding information for the link is detected, recorded and shared with the network elements connected by the link, before the link is used to transmit bearer traffic. One of a group of optical network elements that communicate through an out of band channel, such as a LAN, is “elected” a network element leader. After election, the leader network element coordinates the port discovery process; requests for port “recognition”, responses to requests, and other messages are passed through the network element leader on the out of band channel from one non-leader network element to another.