Method and system for path protection in a communications network
US6992978B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/28
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for fast and reliable failure notification and accelerated switchover for path protection in a communications network having several overlapping areas of nodes interconnected by communications links is described. Upon a failure event involving one of the communications links, a failure message is broadcast identifying the failed link, the broadcast being confined within the areas which include the failed link. A reliable transmission protocol is provided wherein at one or more of the nodes, a LAPD protocol unnumbered information frame containing the failure message is sent to connected nodes. The failure message is resent in another unnumbered information frame after a time interval unless an unnumbered acknowledgment frame containing or referencing the failure message is received from the connected node. A method of path protection includes establishing plural working paths through the nodes. For each working path, an associated protection path is precalculated. A priority is assigned to each working path and associated protection path. A protection path is precalculated for each area through which a particular working path traverses. Upon a failure event, work…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.