Abstract: A method for proactively managing a fault in a video and data network is provided. The method includes collecting network correlation data for the fault. Additionally, a physical connectivity test of the video and data network is automatically performed. Physical connectivity data from the physical connectivity test is collected. Also, a virtual connectivity test of the video and data network is automatically performed. Virtual connectivity data from the virtual connectivity test is collected. The network correlation data, physical connectivity data, and virtual connectivity data is then correlated based on the fault. Once the correlation is performed, a defined resolution procedure for resolving the fault using the correlated network correlation data, physical connectivity data, and virtual connectivity data is provided.

Abstract: A system comprising a computer including a plurality of network interface controllers (NICs), the plurality of NICs associated with an address. The system further comprises a switching apparatus coupled to the computer and an echo device coupled to the switching apparatus. The echo device is adapted to send a packet to the switching apparatus to verify connectivity with the plurality of NICs. The packet comprises the address. The switching apparatus compares the address with a data structure to locate a matching address. If no matching address is located, the switching apparatus sends copies of the packet to each of the plurality of NICs coupled to the switching apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method for monitoring end nodes using Ethernet Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) in an access network. In one embodiment, a broadband access server (BRAS) is operable to generate an Ethernet CFM frame that includes a query message with respect to a particular end node. An interworking function (IWF) entity associated with an access node that services the particular end node is operable to interpret the Ethernet CFM frame and construct a corresponding query message in a native protocol compatible with the particular end node. Upon receiving a reply message from the particular end node, the IWF entity constructs a suitable reply Ethernet CFM frame for transmission to the BRAS, wherein the reply Ethernet CFM frame includes a response corresponding to the reply message from the end node.

Abstract: A method of encapsulating data packets for use in a distributed computer network is disclosed. The method includes providing a data packet for transmission over the distributed computer network, the data packet selected from one of a customer data packet and an OAM data packet; and encapsulating the data packet with a medium access control outer packet. The disclosed data packet handling method includes receiving a data packet from a customer facing data port, the customer facing data port within a network node of a computer network; performing medium access control (MAC) learning for the received packet; determining whether the data port is a MAC-in-MAC port; performing a packet mapping to a destination address based on a service provider destination address; and encapsulating the received data packet with a header associated with the service provider.

Abstract: A system, method and computer program product are provided for determining the status of a packet-switched network by a computing device monitoring components that comprise the packet-switched network including a call-server, one or more gate-keepers, a TDM voice gateway, and one or more packet-switched routers. The computing device is configured to document failure location information associated with the packet-switched network and provide the failure information to a technical support organization.

Abstract: To collectively manage user networks connected to a virtual private network (VPN) without such time and effort necessary for an operation management server to be ready for an expansion MIB for each of vendors.

Abstract: An information distribution apparatus which is connected to each of a plurality of communication systems for performing radio communication with a mobile terminal through a network by using each of a plurality of communication methods having a range in which available frequencies overlap and manages information on communication environments of the communication systems.

Abstract: There is provided a system and method of operating, administering, managing and provisioning of a communications network. A network element enters the registration and discovery mode during its initial auto-configuration, restarting, restarting from different geological location, or forming peer-to-peer groups for self-organized and/or self-coordinated networks. Managing mode is entered after the network element completes its registration with the registrar server.

Abstract: A disclosed communication apparatus of one embodiment of the present disclosure includes a transmitting unit including a counter for counting the number of transmitted data frames and indicating the counted number of the transmitted data frames as a counter value and a scheduler for determining a frame transmission order, and configured to transmit one or more data frames and a monitoring and control frame which includes the counter value; and a generating unit configured to generate the monitoring and control frame. When generating the monitoring and control frame, the generating unit corrects the counter value included in the monitoring and control frame according to the frame transmission order.

Abstract: Communication time period measuring frames are simultaneously sent from an OAM adaptive device on a transmission side, to both a working path and a protection path. In an OAM adaptive device on a reception side, reception times of the frames having arrived from both the paths are checked so as to measure a time period difference between both the paths. The time period difference is fed back to a logic distance adjustment function of each PON section to determine required communication time periods of the PON sections respectively included in a working system and a protection system. Communication time periods of the working system and the protection system in a packet communication network are arbitrated in order to decrease a packet loss at line switching in a packet relaying network.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a data framer configured to frame a Media Access Control (MAC) control message for transmission, the MAC control message comprising an organization specific identifier (OUI) and at least one type-length-value (TLV) comprising a type field, a length field, and a value field, wherein a format of the TLV is specified by the OUI, and wherein the value field comprises information related to operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) features of a network. Also included is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising compiling an OAM message comprising a plurality of organization-specific TLVs and an organization unique identifier (OUI) that indicates an organization responsible for the format of the TLV, and transmitting the OAM message.

Abstract: A mobile communication device comprises a plurality of spatially and/or polar diverse antenna configurations. Signals received by each of the plurality of antenna configurations are combined in a combiner and passed to a rake receiver that can be configured to combine the signals received by each of the plurality of antenna configurations for further processing. The mobile communication device can comprises a signal adjusting network that can be configured to adjust the phase and/or magnitude of signals being received by one of the antennas.

Abstract: A telecommunications system. The system includes a first node. The system includes a second node. The system preferably includes at least one intermediate node in communication with the first node and the second node. The first node, second node and intermediate node defining a path. The first node repeatedly sending signaling through the intermediate node to the second node and receiving the signaling back to establish and maintain a connection between the first node, second node and intermediate node. The system includes means for dynamically placing connection points along the path through which the connection is established each time after signaling from the first node to the second node returns to the first node. A method for forming connections in a telecommunications system.

Abstract: This invention uses multi-tier indexing methods to organize the wireless communication industry standard Radio Resource Management (RRM) parameters, compression techniques to compress the indexed RRM parameters, model the RRM parameters to identify the relationships between the parameters, simulate the model by eliminating predefined non-influential parameters, to conclude the signal-noise-ratio values in order to determine signal coverage. This invention is used to replace the Road Tests currently implemented by the service carriers for determining actual service coverage.

Abstract: A device and method are disclosed for correctly restoring a read clock when there are a plurality of STM data stream transmission sources. In a CES device of an ATM communication system, ATM cells from respective connections, which are to be delivered to the same outgoing line, are accumulated in a reassembly buffer memory and a PLO control unit aggregates the amount of ATM cells accumulated in the reassembly buffer memory for each connection. Subsequently, the PLO control unit calculates the frequency of a read clock based on the amount of accumulated ATM cells for each connection. A PLO restores the read clock which is applied to read data from the reassembly buffer memory for delivery to an STM network.

Abstract: A method for alert throttling in media quality monitoring, includes monitoring a plurality of active communication sessions. Each active communication session is between at least two endpoints. The method also includes detecting at least one quality-impacted communication session out of the plurality of active communication sessions. The method also includes generating a first alert for each detected quality-impacted communication session out of the plurality of active communication sessions until a first throttling number of quality-impacted communication sessions is detected out of the plurality of active communication sessions. Upon detecting the first throttling number of quality-impacted communication sessions, the method includes generating a second alert for each group of additional second number of quality-impacted communication sessions detected out of the plurality of active communication sessions.

Abstract: A network troubleshooting framework is described. In an implementation, a method includes generating a first estimation of network performance by a simulator based on network settings obtained from a network, estimating the new performance under an alternative setting by providing the alternative setting to the network simulation and observing the simulation output, repeating the procedure for other alternative settings, and suggesting the alternative setting that improves network performance.

Abstract: A telecommunication system comprising an O&M (Operation and Maintenance) hierarchical layer structure comprising at least two O&M nodes in at least two hierarchical layers, where O&M actions may be initiated at said nodes. The system is arranged for generation of an O&M transaction identifier when an O&M action is initiated, and is transferred to all nodes in all management layers used for said O&M action, which is initiated inside an O&M session, allowing O&M actions and sessions to be tracked in the O&M hierarchical layer structure. The present invention also relates to a method for tracking O&M actions in an O&M hierarchical layer structure.

Abstract: An OAM link trace message is sent from a source node to a target node in a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network. The link trace message using an 802.1ag format except, as a destination address, it uses either the unicast Ethernet MAC node ID of the target node, or the multicast destination address of the service instance. A method of network topology verification in a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network checks the link state protocol database at a node to ascertain the control plane topology view of at least part of the network. It then executes one or more Ethernet OAM commands from the node to ascertain the data plane topology view of the same part of the network. The control plane topology view of the network is compared to the data plane topology view of the network to see if they match. An error is flagged if they do not match.

Abstract: Network and performance monitoring in a link state protocol controlled Ethernet network. A first node receives a network layer monitoring command from a network layer monitoring requestor. The monitoring command is directed to a second node. The first node resolves the network layer monitoring command into one or more Ethernet OAM command(s); The first node sends the Ethernet OAM command(s) to the second node, receives the results of the Ethernet OAM command(s) from the second node; and returns the results of the Ethernet OAM command(s) in the form of a network layer response to the network layer monitoring requestor. Furthermore, network layer monitoring commands may be one or more performance monitoring commands, and the Ethernet OAM commands can include Y.1731 commands. An IP flow can be adjusted between the first node and the second node in response to the network layer response returned to the network layer monitoring requestor.

Abstract: There is provided a line status monitoring circuit, a node, a communication system, and a failure occurrence determining method which can detect occurrence of a failure in some of redundant lines between nodes. A line status monitoring circuit receives a frame through one of a plurality of lines from another node connected through a redundant transmission channel which is made redundant by the plurality of lines. The line status monitoring circuit includes a line-specific check frame monitoring unit 51. If a line-specific check frame having an added dedicated header corresponding to each of the plurality of lines is received through one of the plurality of lines from another node, the line-specific check frame monitoring unit 51 determines whether or not a further line-specific check frame corresponding to a frame for checking which is identical to a frame for checking which the line-specific check frame corresponds to is received through a predetermined number or more of lines within a predetermined time.

Abstract: A communication device includes a communication section for receiving or transmitting an Operation Administration and Maintenance (OAM) frame from or to a Layer-2 network; and a controller for providing a destination Media Access Control (MAC) address to the OAM frame when the OAM frame is transmitted in the Layer-2 network, wherein the destination MAC address is associated with an Internet Protocol (IP) multicast address.

Abstract: A measuring probe, able to access data flows composed of packets transmitted along a path formed by a plurality of equipment in a telecommunication network, having a measurement module to perform measurements in accordance with the configuration data, a determination module for determining that one or more transmitted packets form a signaling message, and a signaling module to determine configuration data from the signaling message.

Abstract: To prevent, in using a multicast DA in an OAM frame, an increase in the network bandwidth usage and in the load of node processing and a degradation of the network reliability caused by a frame being transmitted to all routes in a broadcast domain. A MAC address and other basic frame information and the MEGID are associated with each other, and the MEGID information is added to the OAM frame, and these information are transmitted from an edge node serving as an end point of an ME. In a relay node of the ME, a route control table used for OAM frame control is provided, and a filter is generated by snooping of the OAM frame. Furthermore, when the relay node does not support the OAM function, the MEGID is denoted by a VLAN tag and the route control is made using the snooping function of each VLAN tag.

Abstract: Provided is a method for measuring performance of a multi-protocol label switching label switched path (MPLS LSP), using a fast failure detection (FFD) packet among MPLS operation and management (OAM) packets recommended by International Telecommunication Union-Telecommunication standardization sector (ITU-T) Y.1711 to detect a packet error generated in the MPLS LSP and newly defining bytes not used in the FFD frame to use the bytes for parity check. An ingress node performs the steps of: calculating a parity value of an MPLS packet as byte interleaved parity (BIP)-8 before transmitting the MPLS packet; storing the calculated parity value of the MPLS packet in an MPLS OAM packet of an FFD structure; and transmitting the MPLS OAM packet whenever transmitting the MPLS packet.

Abstract: The invention provides a PVC switching control method for an ATM communication network which allows high speed changeover of a connection upon occurrence of/release from a trouble and is superior in reliability and maintenance facility and simple in control. A master PVC connection and an OAM connection are set between two ATM exchanges, and a bypassing PVC connection and an OAM connection prepared in advance for bypassing are set between the two ATM exchanges. If occurrence of/release from a trouble with and of the master PVC connection is recognized by the ATM exchanges using an OAM function, then the operative PVC connection is switched between the master PVC connection and the bypassing PVC connection.

Abstract: OAM data is automatically configured by each node of an Ethernet network. The OAM data is required to support an OAM signalling session associated with a connection for carrying data traffic between nodes. The OAM data can be derived from data already associated with all endpoints of the connection. The node can derive the OAM data autonomously. A node which is an endpoint of an OAM signalling session automatically derives an identifier for the first endpoint. The first identifier can be autonomously derived by the node and other signalling content, such as source MAC address, is used to differentiate OAM signalling messages. Alternatively, a node can automatically configure the first identifier on the basis of information stored locally at the node and signalling with a second endpoint. The OAM data can be IEEE 802.1ag or ITU Y.1731 data.

Abstract: There is provided a unit capable of performing calculation of delay time between a measuring station and a station to be measured by using an echo request/response frame in any block and at any time in a manner being independent from time-synchronization. To a payload portion of an OAM (Operations, Administration and Maintenance) echo request/response frame to be used for an OAM testing are added “request transmitting time” being the time at which an OAM echo request has been transmitted from the measuring station and “response receiving time” being the time at which the measuring station has received an OAM response from the station to be measured. After termination of the testing, the OAM echo request/response frame stored in a data buffer is read at arbitrary time and the request transmitting time added to the frame and response receiving time are extracted to calculate delay time between the measuring station and the station to be measured.

Abstract: Provided are a radio access station (RAS) apparatus and a method of controlling a call in a portable Internet system, that are capable of dispersing traffic concentrated in an access control router (ACR). According to the apparatus and method, an operation, administration and maintenance (OAM) task for operation and management of a RAS, an admission task for call admission processing and service flow control for a portable subscriber station (PSS), a public key manager (PKM) task for authentication and registration of the PSS, a mobility task for handover processing for the PSS, and an account task for accounting are implemented as modules in the RAS. A call control procedure capable of being performed in the RAS is performed in the RAS by the tasks, thereby embodying a RAS-based call control method. Therefore, in comparison with a conventional ACR-based call control method, it is possible to disperse traffic loads concentrated in an ACR and establish an economical network.

Abstract: Management of an Operation and Maintenance (OAM) packet in a communications network is provided. According to one embodiment, a network device in a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network for providing a uniform distribution of OAM is provided. The network device comprises of a memory unit and a hardware unit. The memory unit having an improved data table with an active record. The hardware unit coupled to the memory unit. The hardware unit operable to calculate an interval based on a number of active records in the improved data table, scan the active record generally within the interval, and form an OAM packet based on the active record.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for communication network parameter setting comprising the steps of a) acquiring and storing information related to a1) service requests issued by terminals attached to the network, a2) positions of the terminals, and a3) establishment of the requested service for the terminals, b) matching, based on the position information, the information to a grid of unit areas, the grid of unit areas representing a geographical region in which the network is operated, c) processing the information per unit area, d) outputting the processed information and e) modifying communication network operating parameters based on the outputted processed information.

Abstract: In an IP packet communication apparatus, an operation and maintenance function capable of monitoring a transmission path is provided to a layer used to process a packet, which corresponds to an upper layer of an optical network. As one method for applying the operation and maintenance function to the packet layer, in the case of IP over PPP over WDM, an operation/maintenance frame is defined to a PPP frame so as to realize the operation/maintenance function of a PPP connection. In the case that a plurality of connections are multiplexed on the same transmission path, a maintenance frame is conducted in order to operate/manage these connections by being grouped, so that a fault occurring in the optical network is monitored. As another method for applying the operation and maintenance function to the packet layer, an operation/maintenance frame is defined to an IP packet so as to realize an operation and maintenance function of an IP flow.

Abstract: The invention provides a PVC switching control method for an ATM communication network which allows high speed changeover of a connection upon occurrence of/release from a trouble and is superior in reliability and maintenance facility and simple in control. A master PVC connection and an OAM connection are set between two ATM exchanges, and a bypassing PVC connection and an OAM connection prepared in advance for bypassing are set between the two ATM exchanges. If occurrence of/release from a trouble with and of the master PVC connection is recognized by the ATM exchanges using an OAM function, then the operative PVC connection is switched between the master PVC connection and the bypassing PVC connection.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for detecting whether a network device supports a protocol, which defines a supplemental header, are disclosed. One method involves detecting a value within a preamble generated by a sending device and verifying that a header format of a header, also generated by the sending device, conforms to a header format definition of a protocol. The header format definition of the protocol defines a supplemental header. The preamble can be an Ethernet preamble. In one embodiment, the preamble is a converged data link (CDL) preamble or other type of preamble that is used to convey operation, administration and management (OAM) information.

Abstract: A system and a machine-implemented method for receiving a real-time data signal from a real-time data source and a time-delayed data signal from a time-delayed data source. The real-time data signal and the time-delayed data signal are each monitored for the occurrence of a synchronization event. A time differential is determined between the occurrence of the synchronization event within the real-time data signal and the occurrence of the synchronization event within the time-delayed data signal.

Abstract: A domain configuration system and method operable in an Ethernet OAM network having multiple levels of OAM domains. A port of a first end bridge of the network is configured as a first MEP node belonging to a predetermined OAM domain having a particular level. GARP or CC frames are transmitted from the first MEP node in a forward attribute registration process towards the remaining bridges of the network. A port of a second end bridge of the network is configured as a second MEP node of the predetermined OAM domain. In a backward attribute registration process, GARP or CC frames are transmitted from the second MEP node towards the remaining bridges of the network. Responsive to the frame flow, ports in bridges disposed between the first and second end bridges are automatically configured as MIP nodes having the particular level.

Abstract: Provided is a method of monitoring link performance and diagnosing an active link state without interrupting traffic in an Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) while the link is in the active state.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for verifying connectivity between monitoring points (MPs) within a network. The method comprises assigning, to each monitoring point, a unique MP ID and a unique sender MP ID and a unique receiver MP ID. Each sender MP ID uniquely identifying a sender MP from which a corresponding MP will receive valid monitoring messages. Each receiver MP ID uniquely identifying a receiver MP to which the corresponding MP transmits a valid monitoring message. The method further includes transmitting the monitoring messages MP ID in a unidirectional monitor cycle through the MPs, where each monitoring message includes a sender MP ID and a receiver MP ID. The method determines connectivity at each MP based on the sender and receiver MP IDs in a monitoring message received at the MP. Optionally, the method and system may report, from a monitoring point, a loss of connectivity when no valid monitoring message is received at the monitoring point for a predetermined number of monitor intervals.

Abstract: A shared (proxy) OAM session is performed in a packet-based network on behalf of a plurality of connections. First and second connections are each routed between respective nodes of the network for carrying data traffic. The second connection shares a portion of the routing of the first connection. The shared OAM session is performed along a path which is co-routed with at least part of the shared portion of the routing of the first connection and the second connection. Failure notification signalling is propagated to an endpoint node of each of the first and second connections when the shared OAM session indicates a failure has occurred. The use of a shared OAM session reduces processing at nodes and reduces OAM traffic. Each connection can be a trunk, such as a PBT/PBB-TE trunk, or a service carried within a trunk.

Abstract: A control protocol is run in the interconnect region between network domains so that the interconnect region may be managed using a separate control plane. According to an embodiment of the invention, a spanning tree protocol is used to establish a separate spanning tree within the interconnect region. To avoid loop formation within the interconnect region, links interconnecting adjacent edge nodes that are part of the interconnect region and which belong to a given domain are allowed to pass control frames but not data frames. OAM may be used detect link failure of a link between adjacent nodes on a given domain.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for managing a service across an optical network over a dedicated circuit between a first and second service termination points. Each service termination point generates a service performance report message. Each service performance report messages has information related to a performance of the service as determined by the service termination point generating the message. The service termination points exchange the service performance report messages over a service management channel to enable an assessment of the performance of the service based on the service performance report messages from both service termination points. Through access to and use of the service management channel, service providers can implement an edge management model or a core management model for measuring the performance of their services with respect to service level agreements governing those services.

Abstract: A method of controlling a loop-back process between a local device and a remote device in an Ethernet passive optical network simplifies the initiation and the termination processes for a loop-back process by avoiding the use of Operation, Administration and Maintenance—Packet Data Unit (OAM PDU) information along with a loop-back control OAM PDU. The method includes the steps of: (a) adding a predetermined field into a loop-back control OAM PDU in the loop-back process, the predetermined field having distinguishing messages for initiation of a loop-back process and messages for termination of a loop-back process; and (b) the local device and the remote device performing a loop-back process using the loop-back control OAM PDU.

Abstract: A test device enables DOCSIS link testing in a HFC network without requiring the CMTS or other router at the headend of the HFC network to respond to ICMP messages. The test device includes a test packet generator for generating test packets having a destination Internet protocol (IP) address associated with a test device, a memory for storing transmission parameters of the test packets, and a test packet evaluator associated with the IP address in the generated test packets. The test packet evaluator receives the generated test packets after the test packets have been routed through a router at a head end of a HFC network and compares reception parameters for the received test packets to the transmission parameters stored in the memory.

Abstract: A processor includes controller circuitry operative to control the performance of a continuity check for each of a plurality of flows of protocol data units (PDUs) received by the processor. The controller circuitry is further operative to control access to a set of continuity check counters comprising a counter for each of the plurality of flows. The processor stores an identifier for each of a subset of the plurality of flows in a continuity check cache, and determines if a given flow for which a PDU is received in the processor has a corresponding entry in the continuity check cache. If the given flow has such an entry, the processor prevents a corresponding one of the continuity check counters from being updated, and if the given flow does not have such an entry, the processor clears the corresponding one of the continuity check counters and stores a flow identifier for the given flow in the continuity check cache.

Abstract: A method of using cable test to modify teaming failover algorithm is disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment, a method of causing team member failover based on channel characteristics of a channel in an information handling system includes testing the channel of at least one of the team members in the information handling system. The method further includes comparing the channel characteristics of the team member to a minimum level of channel characteristics. The method further includes placing the team member into a standby mode such that the team member fails-over regardless of a link status of the channel, based on the comparison.

Abstract: Echo messaging for operation, administration, and management of a service-based distribution path and associated services are disclosed. Service-based distribution paths or transport tunnels include services mapped or bound to a path associated with the transport tunnel. Echo messaging provides OAM capabilities to monitor the operational state of a service-based distribution path, including determining configuration, connectivity, and other characteristics of the path and associated services that transport data. OAM functions provided by echo messaging enable OAM functions despite service volume along a core network, path or set of paths.

Abstract: A device comprises interception means (2) capable, in the case of transfer of data packets between at least two remote terminals (Tij-k), via a communications network, of intercepting at least certain of the control packets during the transfer, and of determining amongst the intercepted control packets those which are formatted according to a chosen real-time data transfer control protocol, and management means (3) capable of duplicating at least part of each intercepted control packet, and of generating data, representing the duplicated part, intended to be communicated to control means (1) located in a control application (S) of the network.

Abstract: A method of detecting an intermediary communication device in a communication path of a target communication device by inserting a sensor in the path, recording communication packets to and from the target communication device, recording times for the packets, identifying packets in a first interconnection layer, calculating a minimum latency time for the packets, identify packets in a second interconnection layer that is at a different communication processing level than that of the first interconnection layer, calculating a minimum latency time for the packets of the second interconnection layer, and determining that an intermediary communication device is present in the path if an absolute difference between the minimum latency times is above a user-definable threshold.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods of determining configurations for handling communication path management traffic are disclosed. Respective communication path management traffic handling configurations of communication system elements that terminate a communication link, which is a portion of a communication path, are determined. If the respective communication path management traffic handling configurations indicate that the communication system elements have been configured to pass communication path management traffic associated with the communication path toward endpoints of the communication path, then communication path management traffic for managing the communication path is exchanged through the communication link. Indications of a communication path management traffic handling configuration may be exchanged between the communication system elements during establishment of the communication link.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for determining the minimum required processing speed for a quadrature decoder using measurements of encoder performance, and to assess the safety factor of a particular decoder processing speed. The system and method may also be used to indicate proper adjustment direction by displaying real-time error measurements during encoder alignment. The system measures a logic state width error and calculates alignment parameters, processing speed and a safety factor. The method allows a measured logic state width error to be used to calculate a minimum required processing speed and safety factor.