Network protection switching mechanisms and methods of network protection
US8358929B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2007 |
| Grant date | Jan 22, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 5, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0081
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A network protection switching mechanism comprises a plurality of optical switches located at a plurality of nodes; a plurality of optical communication paths between said switches; switch based fault detectors located as part of at least two switches which generate detection results representative of the identification of a fault; switch based controllers located as part of said at least two switches; and internal switch-communication means between said fault detectors and said controllers which facilitate the transmission of detection results from said fault detectors to said controllers; wherein said controllers directly cause switching to an alternative optical communication path dependent upon the receipt of said detection results; whereby autonomous switch based protection without dependence on either inter-switch control communication or higher level network control communication is achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.