Video over Ethernet bandwidth optimization

1. A method for controlling the flow of video over Ethernet (VoE) traffic in a network, the method comprising:

originating the VoE traffic from an add node in the network;

transmitting a first control signal from the add node with a listener count of zero;

receiving at the add node, a second control signal from a first drop node in the network containing a drop port configured to receive the VoE traffic;

determining if the first drop node contains the drop port based on the second control signal; and

upon determining that the first drop node contains the drop port, transmitting the first control signal from the add node with a listener count of one.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

transmitting the VoE traffic as a unicast unidirectional signal in response to the second control signal from the first drop node.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a third control signal from a second drop node in the network indicating the second drop node has a drop port configured to receive the VoE traffic; and

transmitting the VoE traffic as a multicast unidirectional signal in response to the third control signal from the second drop node.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

detecting a loss of one of the second control signal or third control signal; and

transmitting the VoE traffic as a unicast unidirectional signal in response to a loss of one of the second control signal or third control signal.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

marking the VoE traffic as discard eligible when there are no drop nodes determined to be in the network.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

not marking the VoE traffic as discard eligible upon determining the first drop node contains the drop port.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said network is an optical network.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the optical network is a G.8032 protected optical network.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second control signal comprises control frames based on the standards of Y.1731 for Continuity Check Messages (CCM).

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a third control signal from a second drop node in the network indicating the second drop node has a drop port configured to receive the VoE traffic; and

transmitting the first control signal from the add node with a listener count of two.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

determining one of the first drop node, second drop node or other drop node is a last drop node with a drop port; and

blocking the VoE traffic from passing to other nodes at the last drop node.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

blocking the VoE traffic from passing to other nodes at the first drop node.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first control signal from the add node comprises control frames based on the standards of Y.1731 for Continuity Check Messages (CCM).

14. A method for controlling the flow of video over Ethernet (VoE) traffic in a network, the method comprising:

receiving the VoE traffic at a first drop node from an add node in the network;

determining if the first drop node contains a drop port;

transmitting a first control signal from the first drop node to the add node indicating the first drop node contains the drop port;

receiving a second control signal from the add node with a listener count of one; and

blocking the VoE traffic from passing to other nodes at the first drop node.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving the second control signal from the add node with a listener count of two or more;

determining that the first drop node is a last node with a drop port; and

blocking the VoE traffic from passing to other nodes at the last node.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the second control signal from the add node comprises control frames based on the standards of Y.1731 for Continuity Check Messages (CCM).

17. An apparatus for controlling the flow of video over Ethernet (VoE) traffic in a network, the method comprising:

means for originating the VoE traffic from an add node in the network;

means for transmitting a first control signal from the add node with a listener count of zero;

means for receiving at the add node, a second control signal from a first drop node in the network containing a drop port configured to receive the VoE traffic;

means for determining if the first drop node contains the drop port based on the second control signal; and

upon determining that the first drop node contains the drop port, transmitting the first control signal from the add node with a listener count of one.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium embodying computer executable instructions for controlling the flow of video over Ethernet (VoE) traffic in a network, the non-transitory computer readable comprising:

instructions to receive the VoE traffic at a first drop node from an add node in the network;

instructions to determine if the first drop node contains a drop port;

instructions to transmit a first control signal from the first drop node to the add node indicating the first drop node contains the drop port;

instructions to receive a second control signal from the add node with a listener count of one;

instructions to block the VoE traffic from passing to other nodes at the first drop node.