Patent · US Active

Multi-channel protection switching systems and methods for increased reliability and reduced cost

US7634194B2 · kind B2 · utility

16Cited by
1References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 5, 2006
Grant dateDec 15, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 16, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04J14/0279
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention provides multi-channel protection switching systems and methods for increased reliability and reduced cost. Advantageously, the multi-channel protection switching systems and methods of the present invention use pre-FEC rate measurements, and changes in pre-FEC rate measurements, to detect and avoid potential link failures before they occur. The multi-channel protection switching systems and methods of the present invention also use “wavelength-hopping” and other protection schemes to alleviate wavelength and time-dependent optical propagation impairments. Advantageously, the multi-channel protection switching systems and methods of the present invention switch proactively on diminished, rather than failed, signals; do not require the pre-provisioning of bandwidth through an alternate physical path; allow for switching in either the electrical or optical domain; and incorporate buffering of the data sources involved such that they may be synchronized, thereby providing “hitless” switching between channel sources on the client side.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.