IP Library Granted Patent US 9,013,977
Granted Patent B2
US 9,013,977 · App. 13/156,071 · Granted Apr 21, 2015

Method and system for reducing traffic disturbance in a communication network caused by intermittent failure

Inventors: Rajnath Singh (Richardson, TX); Guoliang Wu (Plano, TX); David Traylor (Allen, TX); Si Long Ho (Allen, TX); Chenjiang Hu (Plano, TX); Ladan S. Pickering (Plano, TX)
Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
H04B10/032H04L45/22H04L45/28H04L49/101
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,013,977
App. No.
13/156,071
Granted
Apr 21, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method may include: (i) in response to clearing of a fault on a working path of a protection switching group to which a first network element is interfaced: (a) transitioning, by the first network element, its state to a first state in which a protection path of the protection switching group is active; and (b) initiating, by the first network element, a wait to restore timer, the wait to restore timer having a duration such that upon expiration of the timer, the first network element is configured to switch the working path to active; and (ii) in response to receiving a message from a second network element interfaced to the protection switching group indicating that a failure has occurred on the working path: (a) maintaining, by the first network element, its state in the first state; and (b) continuing, by the first network element, the wait to restore timer.

Claims (50)

1. A method for reducing intermittent failure and traffic disturbance in a communication network, comprising:

in response to clearing of a fault on a working path of a protection switching group to which a first network element is interfaced:

transitioning, by the first network element, its state to a first state in which a protection path of the protection switching group is active, the protection switching group including the protection path and the working path wherein the first state is State I of the G.8031 standard; and

initiating, by the first network element, a wait to restore timer, the wait to restore timer having a duration such that upon expiration of the timer, the first network element is configured to switch the working path to active; and

in response to receiving a message from a second network element interfaced to the protection switching group indicating that a failure has occurred on the working path:

maintaining, by the first network element, its state in the first state; and

continuing, by the first network element, the wait to restore timer.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, in response to receiving a message from the second network element indicating recovery of the working path:

maintaining, by the first network element, its state in the first state; and

continuing, by the first network element, the wait to restore timer.

3. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the message from the second network element is an Automatic Protection Switching message indicating state SF_W in accordance with the G.8031 standard.

4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, in response to the first network element detecting a failure on the working path, restarting, by the first network element, the wait to restore timer.

5. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising, in response to expiration of the wait to restore timer, transitioning, by the first network element, traffic from the protection path to the working path.

6. A method according to claim 5 , further comprising, in response to expiration of the wait to restore timer, transitioning, by the first network element, to state A in accordance with the G.8031 standard.

7. A network element, comprising:

a processor;

a memory, the memory having logic stored thereon, the logic configured to, when read and executed by the processor:

in response to clearing of a fault on a working path of a protection switching group to which the network element is interfaced:

transition the state of the network element to a first state in which a protection path of the protection switching group is active, the protection switching group including the protection path and the working path wherein the first state is State I of the G.8031 standard; and

initiate a wait to restore timer, the wait to restore timer having a duration such that upon expiration of the timer, the logic is configured to switch the working path to active; and

in response to receiving a message from a second network element interfaced to the protection switching group indicating that a failure has occurred on the working path:

maintain the state of the network element in the first state; and

continue the wait to restore timer.

8. A network element according to claim 7 , the logic further configured to, when read and executed:

in response to receiving a message from the second network element indicating recovery of the working path:

maintain the state of the network element in the first state; and

continue the wait to restore timer.

9. A network element according to claim 7 , wherein the message from the second network element is an Automatic Protection Switching message indicating state SF_W in accordance with the G.8031 standard.

10. A network element according to claim 7 , the logic further configured to, when read and executed:

in response to the first network element detecting a failure clearance on the working path, restart the wait to restore timer.

11. A network element according to claim 7 , the logic further configured to, when read and executed:

in response to expiration of the wait to restore timer, transition, by the first network element, traffic from the protection path to the working path.

12. A network element according to claim 11 , the logic further configured to, when read and executed:

in response to expiration of the wait to restore timer, transition, by the first network element, to state A in accordance with the G.8031 standard.

13. A system for reducing intermittent failure and traffic disturbance in a communication network, comprising:

at least one processor;

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storing logic configured to be executed by the at least one processor, the logic comprising:

logic for, in response to clearing of a fault on a working path of a protection switching group to which a first network element is interfaced:

transitioning, by the first network element, its state to a first state in which a protection path of the protection switching group is active, the protection switching group including the protection path and the working path wherein the first state is State I of the G.8031 standard; and

initiating, by the first network element, a wait to restore timer, the wait to restore timer having a duration such that upon expiration of the timer, the first network element is configured to switch the working path to active; and

logic for in response to receiving a message from a second network element interfaced to the protection switching group indicating that a failure has occurred on the working path:

maintaining, by the first network element, its state in the first state; and

continuing, by the first network element, the wait to restore timer.

14. A system according to claim 13 , further comprising logic for, in response to receiving a message from the second network element indicating recovery of the working path:

maintaining, by the first network element, its state in the first state; and

continuing, by the first network element, the wait to restore timer.

15. A system according to claim 13 , wherein the message from the second network element, wherein the message is an Automatic Protection Switching message indicating state SF_W in accordance with the G.8031 standard.

16. A system according to claim 13 , further comprising logic for, in response to the first network element detecting a failure on the working path, restarting, by the first network element, the wait to restore timer.

17. A system according to claim 13 , further comprising logic for, in response to expiration of the wait to restore timer, transitioning, by the first network element, traffic from the protection path to the working path.

18. A system according to claim 17 , further comprising logic for, in response to expiration of the wait to restore timer, transitioning, by the first network element, to state A in accordance with the G.8031 standard.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 14, 2011
From: FUJITSU NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: FUJITSU LIMITED
Reel/Frame 027385/0411 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 8, 2011
From: SINGH, RAJNATH; WU, GUOLIANG; TRAYLOR, DAVID; HO, SI LONG; HU, CHENJIANG; PICKERING, LADAN S.
To: FUJITSU NETWORK COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 026411/0529 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120315030A1 · Dec 13, 2012