Abstract: A method for network diagnosis processing of the present invention includes: receiving, by a first network tunnel source end, at a first network layer, a network diagnosis instruction sent by an instruction center; sending, by the first network tunnel source end, at the first network layer, a diagnosis message to a first network layer of a first network tunnel peer end, where the diagnosis message carries characteristic information, so that the first network tunnel peer end reports, at the first network layer, a diagnosis result including the characteristic information to the instruction center; and sending, by the first network tunnel source end, at the second network layer, the diagnosis message to a second network layer of the first network tunnel peer end, so that the first network tunnel peer end reports, at the second network layer, a diagnosis result including the characteristic information to the instruction center.

Abstract: A method of supporting service chaining at a network device of a data network is disclosed. The data network offers a set of services associated with a set of network devices, where subscribers of the data network are served by chains of one or more services. The method starts upon receiving a frame, and the network device selects a chain of one or more services for the frame to be processed by the data network. The network device encapsulates the frame with a reflected frame message (RFM) header, the RFM header containing source information associated with the network device, destination information associated with an immediate next service for the frame to be processed, an operation code indicating the frame being an RFM frame. Then the network device sends the encapsulated frame out of the network device according to the destination information of the encapsulated frame.

Abstract: A method of performing bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) by a hardware forwarding element that includes a set of ingress pipelines and a set of egress pipelines. Each ingress pipeline includes a packet generator. A packet generator in a first pipeline periodically generates a pair of packets to monitor the health of a particular egress link. The pair includes a BFD transmit packet and a BFD dummy transmit packet. The method forwards each dummy BFD transmit packet to a first egress pipeline and increments a counter at the first egress pipeline. Each BFD packet is transmitted through the particular egress link to a network node. BFD packets received from the network node are forwarded to the first egress pipeline and the value of the counter is rest. The method marks the particular egress link as failed when the value of the counter exceeds a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A node configured to emulate a hardware UP Maintenance End Point (MEP) using one or more DOWN MEPs includes a plurality of ports; a switching fabric configured to switch data between the plurality of ports; and processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the plurality of ports and configured to emulate an UP MEP on a first port of the plurality of ports using at least a first DOWN MEP on a second port of the plurality of ports. The DOWN MEP can be implemented in hardware on the second port and the processing circuitry can be configured to execute application software configured to emulate the UP MEP.

Abstract: A method of monitoring a network includes receiving by a user plane record aggregator first data associated with a user plane packet, the first data being selected by a user plane network element from second data, the second data being stored in a plurality of information fields, the plurality of information fields being associated with the user plane network element, the second data being obtained by the user plane network element from user plane traffic, the user plane network element processing the user plane packet in accordance with a user plane network function. The method further includes determining by an aggregation device a characteristic associated with the user plane traffic from the first data, thereby monitoring the user plane traffic without requiring a tap.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and storage media for monitoring service function path are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a service function chain classifier module may receive a network data packet and applying to it a network packet service control that establishes an ordered chain of network service functions to apply to the network data packet as it traverses a service function path. The service function chain classifier module may incorporate into the network packet service control an indicator to obtain time information relating to application of one or more of the plural service functions to the network data packet. A network service performance module may receive the time information relating to the application of the one or more of the plural service functions to the network data packet and to monitor the time information. Other embodiments may be disclosed or claimed.

Abstract: Various techniques for source imposition of network routes are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method includes receiving label values at a source host from a label server. The individual label values corresponding to a network route to one of the hosts or network nodes in the computing network. The method also includes constructing a label stack to reach a destination virtual machine on a destination computing device in the computing network based on the received label values corresponding to the destination computing device and a location of the source computing device in the computing network. The method also includes imposing the constructed label stack on a packet destined to the destination virtual machine on the destination computing device.

Abstract: A Maintenance Entity Group, MEG, End Point, MEP, of a subnetwork within a multi-domain network, said MEP comprising an encapsulation unit configured to encapsulate SOAM frames received by a passive Service Access Point, SAP, of the MEP and a decapsulation unit configured to decapsulate encapsulated SOAM frames received by an active Service Access Point, SAP, of the MEP.

Abstract: In some examples, a switching system includes a plurality of fabric endpoints and a multi-stage switching fabric having a plurality of fabric planes each having a plurality of stages to switch data units between any of the plurality of fabric endpoints. A fabric endpoint of the fabric endpoints is configured to send, to a switch of a first one of the stages and within a first fabric plane of the plurality of fabric planes, a self-ping message destined for the fabric endpoint. The fabric endpoint is configured to send, in response to determining the fabric endpoint has not received the self-ping message after a predetermined time, an indication of a connectivity fault for the first fabric plane.

Abstract: A system and a method for automatically detecting and configuring server uplink network interfaces in a network environment. An exemplary method includes receiving a discovery packet from a network element on a network interface of a server connected to the network element; evaluating the discovery packet to determine whether the network element possesses virtual bridging capabilities; and configuring the network interface of the server as an uplink interface for communicating with a network when the discovery packet indicates that the network element possesses virtual bridging capabilities.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, apparatus, and system for detecting performance of a layer 3 virtual private network. A first node creates an OAM instance according to OAM configuration information set by a user, and sends the OAM configuration information to a second nodet; the second node creates an OAM instance according to the OAM configuration information; and the first node performs OAM detection by sending an OAM packet to the second node and/or receiving an OAM packet from the second node, where the sending and/or receiving is implemented by using the OAM instance of the first node. According to the present invention, not only an OAM configuration procedure is simplified and manpower is saved, but also consistency of OAM configuration at two ends can be ensured. In addition, a configuration delay in this dynamic configuration manner may be ignored.

Abstract: A mobile communication technology, and, more particularly, a method for efficiently transmitting data stored in a message 3 (Msg3) buffer and a user equipment for the same is disclosed. The method of transmitting data by a user equipment in uplink includes receiving an uplink (UP) Grant signal from a base station on a specific message, determining whether there is data stored in a message 3 (Msg3) buffer when receiving the UL Grant signal on the specific message, determining whether the specific message is a random access response message, and transmitting the data stored in the Msg3 buffer to the base station using the UL Grant signal received on the specific message, if there is data stored in the Msg3 buffer when receiving the UL Grant signal on the specific message and the specific message is the random access response message.

Abstract: A bandwidth information notification method includes: obtaining bandwidth information of a microwave link; and sending a plurality of OAM messages carrying the bandwidth information to an endpoint, wherein first one or more OAM messages of the plurality of OAM messages are sent more quickly than at least one of the rest of the plurality of OAM messages.

Abstract: A wireless communication terminal includes an encoder, configured to encode content data; a destination setting section, configured to set a network address on feedback data for the wireless communication terminal, the network address being set on the wireless communication terminal; a transmitter, configured to transmit the feedback data; a receiver, configured to receive the feedback data transmitted form the transmitter and transferred by way of the wireless communication network; and a reproduction processor, configured to perform reproduction processing on the content data in accordance with the received feedback data.

Abstract: A method for implementing Ethernet operation, administration, and management (OAM) function in a network element coupled to a software-defined networking (SDN) system is disclosed. The method comprises adding a flow table entry for an OAM traffic flow to a flow table of the network element. The method continues with adding a group table entry for the OAM traffic flow to a group table of the network element, where the group table entry includes an instruction to send the packet to a set of ports, including a loopback port. The method continues with receiving the packet directing to the group table entry from the SDN controller, and sending the packet to the set of ports of the network element according to the group table entry, where the packet is to be looped back through the loopback port to the flow table periodically at a predetermined interval.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and system for monitoring a first Error Correcting Code (ECC) device for failure and replacing the first ECC device with a second ECC device if the first ECC device begins to fail or fails. In a step, an exemplary embodiment performs a loopback test on an ECC device if a specified number of correctable errors is exceeded or if an uncorrectable error occurs. In another step, an exemplary embodiment replaces an ECC device that fails the loopback test with an ECC device that passes a loopback test.

Abstract: Improving the performance of multitasking processors are provided. For example, a subset of M processors within a system with N processors is dedicated for a desired task. The M (where M>0) of the N processors are dedicate to a task, thus, leaving N?M (N minus M) processors for running normal operating system (OS). The processors dedicated to the task may have their interrupt mechanism disabled to avoid interrupt handler switching overhead. Therefore, these processors run in an independent context and can communicate with the normal OS and cooperation with the normal OS to achieve higher performance.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to the field of communications technologies, and disclose a method for transferring information between a base station and a terminal, a base station, a terminal, and a system, which diversify manners for transferring information between a base station and a terminal. The method includes: receiving a broadcast channel, where the broadcast channel is not only used for transferring basic physical layer configuration information of a cell, but also used for transferring first specific content agreed between the terminal and the base station, and the first specific content is used for transferring configuration information required by the terminal to access a network; and parsing out the first specific content from the broadcast channel. The present invention is mainly applied to transfer of information between a base station and a terminal.

Abstract: A distributed base station radio system includes first channelized to broadband conversion unit that receives first downlink channelized data for first radio frequency band from first channelized radio frequency source; and first universal remote radio head communicatively coupled to first channelized to broadband conversion unit. First channelized to broadband conversion unit converts first downlink channelized data into a first downlink broadband signal. First channelized to broadband conversion unit communicates the first downlink broadband signal to first universal remote radio head. First universal remote radio head receives first downlink broadband signal. First universal remote radio head frequency converts the first downlink broadband signal into first downlink radio frequency signals in first radio frequency band. First universal remote radio head is further configured to transmit first downlink radio frequency signals in first radio frequency band to first subscriber unit.

Abstract: A Continuity Check (CC) protocol optimization method in a switch includes operating a plurality of CC sessions with a peer switch, wherein, for CC intervals, N sessions of the plurality CC sessions are set to a short interval and M sessions of the plurality of CC sessions are set to a long interval, wherein N and M are integers; switching a first session of the N sessions with a second session of the M sessions based on one of a fault and user provisioning; and exchanging the CC intervals between the first session and the second session subsequent to the switching.

Abstract: The present description discloses a method for transmitting an uplink signal through a non-licensed band from a terminal in a wireless communication system by applying carrier aggregation techniques. More specifically, the method is characterized by comprising the steps of: receiving an uplink scheduling grant from a base station; determining the availability of a non-licensed band; transmitting a signal for reserving resources if a non-licensed band is available; and transmitting an uplink signal to the base station via the non-licensed band on the basis of the uplink scheduling grant.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for hairpin condition elimination in a telecommunications network are disclosed. A method is disclosed herein for eliminating a hairpin condition at a network node. According to one method, a first and second call leg, each using packet processing resources in a bearer node, are identified; if the first and second call legs are in a hairpin condition, the first and second call legs are connected together in the bearer node in a manner that bypasses and releases packet processing resources.

Abstract: A system facilitates flow definition management in a switch. During operation, the system identifies a generic flow definition which specifies a flow that is not specific to any input port of a switch. The system further stores in a flow lookup data structure one or more port-specific flow rules based on the generic flow definition, wherein each port-specific flow rule corresponds to a respective port capable of processing data flows.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a circuit that extends between a head-end label switching router (LSR) and a tail-end LSR and traverses one or more intermediate LSRs is locked to data plane traffic. The head-end LSR transmits a packet along the circuit that includes a particular time-to-live (TTL) value configured to expire at a particular intermediate LSR at which loopback is to occur. The circuit is used in a loopback mode. The head-end LSR transmits along the circuit a packet that includes a cease loopback request. The circuit ceases to be used in the loopback mode. The circuit is unlocked to permit the circuit to pass data plane traffic.

Abstract: A method of establishing a service operations administration and maintenance (OAM) session between an originator and a reflector in a communication network includes continuously monitoring, by the reflector, any test packets transmitted by the originator. The originator transmits to the reflector, at a time indicated by a first timestamp, a test packet. The reflector receives the test packet at a time indicated by a second timestamp and generates a unique flow identifier that identifies the reflector. The reflector transmits the test packet to the originator. The reflector assigns a sequence number to the test packet. The originator receives the test packet at a time indicated by a fourth timestamp. The reflector stores the unique flow identifier at least for the duration of the OAM session.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a particular maintenance end-point (MEP) transmits, during a joining phase, one or more join announcement messages (JAMs) to other MEPs in a network. The one or more JAMs request addition of the particular MEP without generation of a first alarm. The particular MEP transmits, during an operational phase, continuity check messages (CCMs) to the other MEPs in the network. Alarm generation is active during the operational phase. The particular MEP transmits, during a leaving phase, one or more leave announcement messages (LAMs) to the other MEPs in the network. The one or more LAMs request removal of the particular MEP without generation of a second alarm.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are presented for piecewise aggregation of overhead messages. According to a method that is presented, that the method can include starting a timer having a time period during which a first radio access technology (RAT) of the UE attempts to obtain overhead messages from a cell. The method can also include obtaining, at a radio resource of the UE and during the time period, a first portion of the overhead messages from the cell. In addition, the method may include determining that the timer has expired and handing over the radio resource to a second RAT of the UE when the timer has expired. The method also may include aggregating the first portion of the overhead messages with a second portion of the overhead messages. Other aspects, embodiments, and features are also claimed and described.

Abstract: Ethernet fault management systems and methods using programmable Type-Length-Value (TLV) offsets combine software-based Operations, Administration, and Maintenance (OAM) protocol support with hardware-based fault management support to delegate generation and processing of OAM protocol messages to hardware devices with the software-based protocol support used to program hardware based on fixed offsets in the OAM protocol messages. The hardware can be designed to be flexible since the hardware can be agnostic to the logic within the OAM protocol which would reside in the software. The Ethernet fault management systems and methods combine the flexibility of software-based approaches with the speed and efficiency of hardware-based approaches.

Abstract: A method of generating timestamp information irrespective of a packet format include generating an egress timestamp corresponding to a time at which a first egress packet associated with a synchronization event is transmitted to a network medium; storing the egress timestamp in a memory based on an egress identifier; and transmitting a second egress packet associated with the synchronization event with the stored egress timestamp being included in the transmitted second egress packet for timing synchronization in the network medium. The method also includes receiving an incoming packet from the network medium; generating an ingress timestamp corresponding to a time at which the incoming packet is received; replacing an error detection field included in the incoming packet with an error detection tag; inserting the ingress timestamp into the error detection tag; and providing the incoming packet with the ingress timestamp to a processor for synchronization of a local clock.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and device for handling a cell outage. The method for handling a cell outage includes: receiving, by a first base station, an energy saving activation message sent by a second base station when a cell outage happens to a second cell, where the energy saving activation message is used to disable the energy saving function; transferring, by the first base station, the first cell from the energy saving state to the normal state according to the energy saving activation message, or keeping a third cell in the normal state until learning that the cell outage of the second cell is solved. This method prevents a coverage blind area in the network when a cell outage happens to a second cell that covers the area of a first cell which is in the energy saving state.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an N-Node virtual link trunking (VLT) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the N-Node VLT system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices (switches or servers) and the core network. The N-Node VLT system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core. Accordingly, the N-Node VLT system eliminates the disadvantage of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (active-standby links) by allowing link aggregation group (LAG) terminations on multiple separate distribution or core switches and also supporting a loop-free topology. Additional benefits of an N-Node VLT system include, but are not limited to, higher resiliency, improved link utilization, and improved manageability of the network.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention include an N-Node virtual link trunking (VLT) system comprising a set of N nodes collectively provide a logical fabric-level view that is consistent across the set of N nodes. Embodiments of the N-Node VLT system comprise a control plane mechanism to provide Layer 2 multipathing between access network devices (switches or servers) and the core network. The N-Node VLT system provides a loop-free topology with active-active load-sharing of uplinks from access to the core. Accordingly, the N-Node VLT system eliminates the disadvantage of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (active-standby links) by allowing link aggregation group (LAG) terminations on multiple separate distribution or core switches and also supporting a loop-free topology. Additional benefits of an N-Node VLT system include, but are not limited to, higher resiliency, improved link utilization, and improved manageability of the network.

Abstract: A distributed base station radio system includes first channelized to broadband conversion unit that receives first downlink channelized data for first radio frequency band from first channelized radio frequency source; and first universal remote radio head communicatively coupled to first channelized to broadband conversion unit. First channelized to broadband conversion unit converts first downlink channelized data into a first downlink broadband signal. First channelized to broadband conversion unit communicates the first downlink broadband signal to first universal remote radio head. First universal remote radio head receives first downlink broadband signal. First universal remote radio head frequency converts the first downlink broadband signal into first downlink radio frequency signals in first radio frequency band. First universal remote radio head is further configured to transmit first downlink radio frequency signals in first radio frequency band to first subscriber unit.

Abstract: A distributed base station radio system includes first channelized to broadband conversion unit that receives first downlink channelized data for first radio frequency band from first channelized radio frequency source; and first universal remote radio head communicatively coupled to first channelized to broadband conversion unit. First channelized to broadband conversion unit converts first downlink channelized data into a first downlink broadband signal. First channelized to broadband conversion unit communicates the first downlink broadband signal to first universal remote radio head. First universal remote radio head receives first downlink broadband signal. First universal remote radio head frequency converts the first downlink broadband signal into first downlink radio frequency signals in first radio frequency band. First universal remote radio head is further configured to transmit first downlink radio frequency signals in first radio frequency band to first subscriber unit.

Abstract: A communication device includes a receiving unit configured to receive a frame via a connected packet network, a transmitting unit configured to transmit the received frame and a self-originating frame to the packet network, a monitoring unit configured to monitor a flow rate of the transmitted frames, a transmission cycle setting unit configured to cause a transmission cycle of the self-originating OAM frame to be a predetermined transmission cycle set for a normal condition when the flow rate of the frames is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold, and a transmission cycle calculating unit configured to calculate a transmission cycle of the OAM frame that can compensate for a shortfall in the number of the transmitted frames, the transmission cycle calculating unit being configured to cause the calculated transmission cycle to be a transmission cycle of the self-originating OAM frame when the flow rate of the frames is less than the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Specially configured host bus adaptors (HBAs) are located in the switches in the fabric or added to a management server. The HBAs are programmed to perform higher level protocol analysis, such as monitoring exchanges, LUNs, and VM/LUN/LBA ranges and developing SCSI statistics on the flows. The HBA can detect protocol exceptions. When located in the switches, mirroring of the desired frames is simplified as all routing is handled internally to the switch, with the HBA/switch combination providing data over the management Ethernet port to a management server. To maintain performance, preferably only the protocol relevant frames are mirrored to the HBAs. With the data provided from the HBAs, in conjunction with the normal diagnostic and statistics data available from the switch itself, the management server can correlate events end-to-end, correlate I/O error statistics collected from the fabric with server statistics, and correlate performance statistics collected from the fabric with server statistics.

Abstract: Machines, systems and methods for deciding whether a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) may be hosted on a computing system with resources to support at least one of the VMs, the method comprising determining maximum permissible probability of infringement (maxPermInfrProb(v)) for a VM(v), wherein “v” is a value from 1 to n, such that n is the number of VMs in a set G, as stipulated by the VMs' SLA, wherein “v” is a value from 1 to n, such that n is the number of VMs in a set G; partitioning the set G into a plurality of groups Gi (G1, . . . Gi, . . . Gn), so that each group is homogenous with respect to maxPermInfrProb defined for members of the group Gi; and organizing the groups Gi based on the value of maxPermInfrProb for each Gi.

Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a method for configuring a reference signal, a base station and a user equipment. The method includes: receiving, by a first base station, candidate reference signal configuration information of a second base station transmitted by the second base station, and/or candidate reference signal configuration information of the first base station transmitted by an operation and maintenance entity (OAM); and configuring, by the first base station, a reference signal for a user equipment (UE) according to the candidate reference signal configuration information of the second base station, and/or, configuring, by the first base station, a reference signal for a UE according to the candidate reference signal configuration information of the first base station.

Abstract: A method includes selecting a subset k of N accessible antennas to use to process a transmission received at the N antennas and sent by a user equipment, and processing the transmission from the user equipment at least by using baseband information from the k antennas. An apparatus includes one or more processors and one or more memories including computer program code. The one or more memories and the computer program code are configured to, with the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following: selecting a subset k of N accessible antennas to use to process a transmission received at the N antennas and sent by a user equipment; and processing the transmission from the user equipment at least by using baseband information from the k antennas. Additional apparatus, computer programs, and computer program products are disclosed.

Abstract: Serial networking dedicated fiber optic inflight entertainment (IFE) systems, methods therefor and components thereof, that exhibit improved configuration and failover attributes through implementation of novel network configuration protocols. In some aspects of the invention, such an IFE system comprises a plurality of head end line replaceable units (HE-LRUs) and a plurality of serial networking line replaceable units (SN-LRUs), wherein each of the SN-LRUs individually detects that a closed system network has been formed between the plurality of HE-LRUs and the plurality of SN-LRUs based on a plurality of packets sourced by at least one of the HE-LRUs and received on a plurality of ports of each of the SN-LRUs, and wherein in response to detecting that the closed system network has been formed one of the SN-LRUs blocks one of its ports based on further detecting that the SN-LRU is a middle SN-LRU.

Abstract: A method performed in a network element for reacting to communication performance measurements that fall outside of communication performance thresholds. The network element generates a communication performance measurement between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, wherein each endpoint is a point of communication in the network and at least the first endpoint resides on the network element. The network element retrieves a communication performance threshold and determines whether the communication performance measurement falls outside of the communication performance threshold. The network element generates a trigger associated with the communication performance measurement and the communication performance threshold when it is determined that the communication performance measurement falls outside of the communication performance threshold.

Abstract: A method of supporting in-band Operations, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching-Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) network is provided. The method may include generating a merged OAM packet by merging a plurality of OAM packets received from a plurality of leaf nodes, and transmitting the merged OAM packet to a root node through a Label-Switched Path (LSP).

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for registering femtocells to provide service are provided. In this regard, a communication device may be operable to determine a plurality of femtocells within a vicinity of its location. The communication device may be operable to receive information communicated from one or more of the plurality of femtocells, which are managed by a femtocell management entity. One or more of the plurality of femtocells may be selected for transmitting and/or receiving cellular data based on the communicated information. The communicated information may comprise one or more of global navigation system satellite (GNSS) coordinates, an identification number, potential interference, power levels, location, associated communication devices, and/or directionality of antennas of the one or more femtocells.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, apparatus, and system for detecting performance of a layer 3 virtual private network. A first node creates an OAM instance according to OAM configuration information set by a user, and sends the OAM configuration information to a second nodet; the second node creates an OAM instance according to the OAM configuration information; and the first node performs OAM detection by sending an OAM packet to the second node and/or receiving an OAM packet from the second node, where the sending and/or receiving is implemented by using the OAM instance of the first node. According to the present invention, not only an OAM configuration procedure is simplified and manpower is saved, but also consistency of OAM configuration at two ends can be ensured. In addition, a configuration delay in this dynamic configuration manner may be ignored.

Abstract: A frame transmission apparatus includes multiple ports provided in a line unit, and a setting control unit. The setting control unit checks the normality of the frame transfer state within the apparatus by transferring a maintenance management frame from a first port to a second port within the apparatus. When the first port is a logical port configured by link aggregation of multiple physical ports, the setting control unit selects each of the multiple physical ports as a transmission source port and transfers multiple maintenance management frames from the multiple physical ports to the second port.

Abstract: Provided are methods and apparatus for mitigating traffic loss by using advanced traffic engineering services in a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) network and/or a generalized multiprotocol label switching (GMPLS) network. Provided is an exemplary method that includes measuring, at a network element, energy utilization of at least one of a line card and a switch fabric card that are configured to carry a traffic engineering (TE) capable link, as well as converting the energy utilization measurement to a normalized energy consumption indicator for the at least one of the line card and the switch fabric card. Further, based on the normalized energy consumption indicator, a route of a label switched path in the MPLS network is optimized so the route avoids the at least one of the line card and the switch fabric card. The provided methods and apparatus advantageously improve throughput, reliability, and availability of MPLS and GMPLS services.

Abstract: A method is performed by a network element implementing an OpenFlow controller. The method requests that a subset of OpenFlow switches in the network report metrics for an OpenFlow data flow to provide a management module with information for executing a management function. A second method is performed by a network element implementing an OpenFlow switch. The OpenFlow switch reports metrics for an OpenFlow data flow to the OpenFlow controller, wherein the OpenFlow switch forwards a management packet with the OpenFlow data flow and collects the metrics for the OpenFlow data flow.

Abstract: A method implemented in a network element, the method comprising identifying a first service function (SF) for validation, the first SF being associated with a service function chain (SFC), being applied to a data flow, and operating on a first network node, encoding one or more tests associated with the first SF in an operations, administration, and management (OAM) packet, and transmitting a validation request comprising the OAM packet towards the first SF to request validation of the first SF by execution of the tests.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a fault diagnosis method and apparatus. A service in the fault diagnosis method relates to at least one user, and the fault diagnosis method includes: determining whether a terminal of each user allows performing fault diagnosis for the service; and performing fault diagnosis for the service if the terminal of each user allows performing fault diagnosis for the service. In the embodiments of the present invention, fault diagnosis for the user related service cannot be performed unless allowed by a user terminal or allowed by both the user terminal and a system side. Thereby, it is ensured that fault diagnosis is performed in a secure environment, which better complies with security laws and regulations.

Abstract: A method of establishing a service operations administration and maintenance (OAM) session between an originator and a reflector in a communication network includes continuously monitoring, by the reflector, any test packets transmitted by the originator. The originator transmits to the reflector, at a time indicated by a first timestamp, a test packet. The reflector receives the test packet at a time indicated by a second timestamp and generates a unique flow identifier that identifies the reflector. The reflector transmits the test packet to the originator. The reflector assigns a sequence number to the test packet. The originator receives the test packet at a time indicated by a fourth timestamp. The reflector stores the unique flow identifier at least for the duration of the OAM session.