Abstract: An example method may include obtaining network information of a network and determining a second path from a first node of multiple nodes to a second node of the multiple nodes. The network information may include a network topology that may include the multiple nodes and multiple links connecting the multiple nodes. The multiple links may include a first routing metric and a second routing metric. The network information may also include multiple first paths from each node of the multiple nodes to all other nodes of the multiple nodes along the multiple links. The multiple first paths may be determined based on the first routing metric. The determining the second path may include selecting path segments for the second path along the multiple links based on the path segments being included in the multiple first paths based on the second routing metric of the multiple links included in the path segments.

Abstract: An example method may include obtaining network information of a network and determining a second path from a first node of multiple nodes to a second node of the multiple nodes. The network information may include a network topology that may include the multiple nodes and multiple links connecting the multiple nodes. The multiple links may include a first routing metric and a second routing metric. The network information may also include multiple first paths from each node of the multiple nodes to all other nodes of the multiple nodes along the multiple links. The multiple first paths may be determined based on the first routing metric. The determining the second path may include selecting path segments for the second path along the multiple links based on the path segments being included in the multiple first paths based on the second routing metric of the multiple links included in the path segments.

Abstract: A method and system for protection switching distributes responsibility for action between a central controller and network elements at endpoints of a linear point-to-point network path. The central controller may be configured to support protection switching by network elements at endpoints of a linear point-to-point path, such that the network elements perform protection switching independently and without direct involvement and/or dependency of the central controller. Simultaneously, the central controller may remain aware of network element actions, events, and states with regard to protection switching, by receiving corresponding notifications from the network elements.

Abstract: A system includes a network element communicatively coupled to another network element through an intraportal link forming a node portal. The network element is communicatively coupled to a source network element within a network attached to the node portal. The network element is configured to monitor a protect path for an automatic protection switching (“APS”) message from the source network element, determine that the APS message has been received, monitor an intraportal link for an expected message from the other network element, determine that the expected message has not been received, monitor integrity of the intraportal link, determine that the intraportal link has failed and determine that the other network element has failed based upon determining that that the APS message has been received, that the expected message has not been received, and that the intraportal link has failed.

Abstract: A method for linear protection for a network element communicatively coupled to another network element included in a node portal located at the edge of an administrative network domain includes exchanging linear automatic protection switching (“APS”) messages with clients in the administrative network domain over one or more path pairs. The path pairs include a working path communicatively coupling a client and the network element and a protect path communicatively coupling a client and the other network element. The method also includes translating the linear APS messages into a shared mesh protection message and exchanging the shared mesh protection message between the network element and the other network element over an intraportal link. The shared mesh protection messages include information concerning a plurality of working paths.

Abstract: A method and system for protection switching distributes responsibility for action between a central controller and network elements at endpoints of a linear point-to-point network path. The central controller may be configured to support protection switching by network elements at endpoints of a linear point-to-point path, such that the network elements perform protection switching independently and without direct involvement and/or dependency of the central controller. Simultaneously, the central controller may remain aware of network element actions, events, and states with regard to protection switching, by receiving corresponding notifications from the network elements.

Abstract: A method and system for performing VLAN provisioning using packet discovery and learning allows a network transport device to support existing VLAN configurations in a new network environment. When Ethernet frames having a VLAN tag are received from a client-side device, an association of the VLAN tag with the client port is recorded at the network transport device. Then, when an Ethernet frame including the VLAN tag is received from a network-side device, the Ethernet frame is directed to the client port associated with the VLAN tag. Additional security measures may restrict a learning period for recording VLAN tag associations. The network transport device may also flood client-side devices and/or network-side devices to associate respective client ports and/or network ports with a VLAN tag.

Abstract: A method for linear protection for a network element communicatively coupled to another network element included in a node portal located at the edge of an administrative network domain includes exchanging linear automatic protection switching (“APS”) messages with clients in the administrative network domain over one or more path pairs. The path pairs include a working path communicatively coupling a client and the network element and a protect path communicatively coupling a client and the other network element. The method also includes translating the linear APS messages into a shared mesh protection message and exchanging the shared mesh protection message between the network element and the other network element over an intraportal link. The shared mesh protection messages include information concerning a plurality of working paths.

Abstract: A system includes a network element communicatively coupled to another network element through an intraportal link forming a node portal. The network element is communicatively coupled to a source network element within a network attached to the node portal. The network element is configured to monitor a protect path for an automatic protection switching (“APS”) message from the source network element, determine that the APS message has been received, monitor an intraportal link for an expected message from the other network element, determine that the expected message has not been received, monitor integrity of the intraportal link, determine that the intraportal link has failed and determine that the other network element has failed based upon determining that that the APS message has been received, that the expected message has not been received, and that the intraportal link has failed.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include communicating an alarm suppression indication trigger message from a maintenance end point to an alarm indication suppression generator. The method may further include communicating, by the alarm indication suppression generator in response to receiving the alarm indication trigger message, an alarm indication suppression message to at least one flow point that has alarm indication suppression enabled for the maintenance end point such that the alarm indication suppression message is received by at least one other maintenance end point upstream of the maintenance end point.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting an occurrence of a fault for a component of a network element having a maintenance entity provisioned thereon. The method may further include transmitting alarm indication suppression messages to components for which the maintenance entity was configured to transmit alarm indication suppression messages in response to detecting the occurrence of the fault.

Abstract: A system and method provide measurement of round trip delay and jitter in an optical network without adding cost to the components of the network. A method of determining round-trip delay and jitter in an optical network comprises the steps of a) transmitting a test frame over the optical network to a device on the optical network, b) receiving a looped-back test frame from the device over the optical network, and c) determining a round-trip delay measurement using the received looped-back test frame.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include communicating an alarm suppression indication trigger message from a maintenance end point to an alarm indication suppression generator. The method may further include communicating, by the alarm indication suppression generator in response to receiving the alarm indication trigger message, an alarm indication suppression message to at least one flow point that has alarm indication suppression enabled for the maintenance end point such that the alarm indication suppression message is received by at least one other maintenance end point upstream of the maintenance end point.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method may include detecting an occurrence of a fault for a component of a network element having a maintenance entity provisioned thereon. The method may further include transmitting alarm indication suppression messages to components for which the maintenance entity was configured to transmit alarm indication suppression messages in response to detecting the occurrence of the fault.

Abstract: An IP Video distribution and protection system provides lower cost by using a reduced number of expensive IP multi-cast router high-speed ports. A multi-cast data source comprises at least one multi-cast router and a multi-cast server. The data source is coupled to a plurality of multi-cast data destinations via a data distribution network comprising a first and a second ring. The data destinations are communicatively linked together in the first ring for data flow in one direction. The second ring network communicatively connects the data source to the last data destination in the first ring for data flow in a different direction though the destinations. Each destination includes switching elements enabling the destinations to provide data in either direction to end users linked to the respective data destinations.

Abstract: A system and method provide measurement of round trip delay and jitter in an optical network without adding cost to the components of the network. A method of determining round-trip delay and jitter in an optical network comprises the steps of a) transmitting a test frame over the optical network to a device on the optical network, b) receiving a looped-back test frame from the device over the optical network, and c) determining a round-trip delay measurement using the received looped-back test frame.

Abstract: A system and method for IP Video distribution and protection provides lower cost by using a reduced number of expensive IP multi-cast router high-speed ports.

Abstract: In an ATM communications system, a cell entering a switch fabric input port is routed to its destination output port and to a predetermined dedicated second output port. The second output port is connected by a feedback connection to a predetermined dedicated second input port. The cell can then be either switched to the same destination output port or switched to both the same destination output port and the predetermined dedicated second output port, thereby providing the ability to execute a logical multicast with any number of leaves to the destination output port.