IP Library Granted Patent US 11,979,310
Granted Patent B2
US 11,979,310 · App. 17/217,322 · Granted May 7, 2024

Signal translation and protection in a hybrid network environment

Inventors: Patrice Brissette (Ontario, CA); Christian Schmutzer (Koenigsbrunn Im Weinviertel, AT); Luca Della Chiesa (Concorezzo, IT)
Assignee: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
H04L45/04H04L12/46H04L41/0686H04L69/321
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,979,310
App. No.
17/217,322
Granted
May 7, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are provided for signal translation in a hybrid network environment. In one example, a first provider edge node obtains a connection status indication from a first one of a second provider edge node via a packet switched network or a third provider edge node via a time-division multiplexing transport network. The first provider edge node translates the connection status indication between a packet switched network format and a time-division multiplexing transport network format. The first provider edge node provides the connection status indication to a second one of the second provider edge node via the packet switched network or the third provider edge node via the time-division multiplexing transport network.

Claims (63)

1. A method comprising:

at a first provider edge node:

obtaining a connection status indication from a first one of a second provider edge node via a packet switched network or a third provider edge node via a time-division multiplexing transport network;

translating the connection status indication between a packet switched network format and a time-division multiplexing transport network format; and

providing the connection status indication to a second one of the second provider edge node via the packet switched network or the third provider edge node via the time-division multiplexing transport network; and

at the second provider edge node:

determining that the third provider edge node is to switch over to a fourth provider edge node configured to translate communications between the packet switched network format and the time-division multiplexing transport network format; and

providing a connection action request for the third provider edge node to switch over to the fourth provider edge node.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

providing the connection action request includes providing a dedicated Operations Administration and Maintenance (OAM) packet indicating that the third provider edge node is to switch over to the fourth provider edge node.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

providing the dedicated OAM packet includes providing the dedicated OAM packet via a Border Gateway Protocol message.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

providing the dedicated OAM packet includes providing the dedicated OAM packet via a dedicated OAM control channel.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

at the first provider edge node:

communicating with a fourth provider edge node configured to translate communications between the packet switched network format and the time-division multiplexing transport network format; and

determining that the fourth provider edge node is to become a designated forwarder for the second provider edge node or the third provider edge node.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

at the first provider edge node:

providing, to the second provider edge node, an indication that the fourth provider edge node is to become the designated forwarder.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:

at the fourth provider edge node:

providing, to the second provider edge node or the third provider edge node, an indication that the fourth provider edge node is to become the designated forwarder.

8. A system comprising:

a first provider edge node; and

a second provider edge node,

wherein the first provider edge node is configured to:

obtain a connection status indication from a first one of the second provider edge node via a packet switched network or a third provider edge node via a time-division multiplexing transport network;

translate the connection status indication between a packet switched network format and a time-division multiplexing transport network format; and

provide the connection status indication to a second one of the second provider edge node via the packet switched network or the third provider edge node via the time-division multiplexing transport network; and

wherein the second provider edge node is configured to:

determine that the third provider edge node is to switch over to a fourth provider edge node configured to translate communications between the packet switched network format and the time-division multiplexing transport network format; and

provide a connection action request for the third provider edge node to switch over to the fourth provider edge node.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the second provider edge node is configured to:

provide a dedicated Operations Administration and Maintenance (OAM) packet indicating that the third provider edge node is to switch over to the fourth provider edge node.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second provider edge node is configured to:

provide the dedicated OAM packet via a Border Gateway Protocol message.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the second provider edge node is configured to:

provide the dedicated OAM packet via a dedicated OAM control channel.

12. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:

a fourth provider edge node configured to translate communications between the packet switched network format and the time-division multiplexing transport network format, wherein the first provider edge node is further configured to:

communicate with the fourth provider edge node; and

determine that the fourth provider edge node is to become a designated forwarder for the second provider edge node or the third provider edge node.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first provider edge node is further configured to:

provide, to the second provider edge node, an indication that the fourth provider edge node is to become the designated forwarder.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the fourth provider edge node is configured to:

provide, to the second provider edge node or the third provider edge node, an indication that the fourth provider edge node is to become the designated forwarder.

15. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to execute operations on behalf of a first provider edge node and a second provider edge node, wherein the operations performed on behalf of the first provider edge node comprise:

obtaining a connection status indication from a first one of the second provider edge node via a packet switched network or a third provider edge node via a time-division multiplexing transport network;

translating the connection status indication between a packet switched network format and a time-division multiplexing transport network format; and

providing the connection status indication to a second one of the second provider edge node via the packet switched network or the third provider edge node via the time-division multiplexing transport network; and

wherein the operations performed on behalf of the second provider edge node comprise:

determining that the third provider edge node is to switch over to a fourth provider edge node configured to translate communications between the packet switched network format and the time-division multiplexing transport network format; and

providing a connection action request for the third provider edge node to switch over to the fourth provider edge node.

16. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the operations performed on behalf of the first provider edge node further comprise:

communicating with the fourth provider edge node configured to translate communications between the packet switched network format and the time-division multiplexing transport network format.

17. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 16 , wherein the operations performed on behalf of the first provider edge node further comprise:

determining that the fourth provider edge node is to become a designated forwarder for the second provider edge node or the third provider edge node.

18. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 17 , wherein the operations performed on behalf of the first provider edge node further comprise:

providing, to the second provider edge node, an indication that the fourth provider edge node is to become the designated forwarder.

19. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the operation performed on behalf of the second provider edge node of providing the connection action request for the third provider edge node to switch over to the fourth provider edge node comprises providing a dedicated Operations Administration and Maintenance (OAM) packet indicating that the third provider edge node is to switch over to the fourth provider edge node.

20. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of claim 19 , wherein the operation performed on behalf of the second provider edge node of providing the dedicated OAM packet comprises providing the dedicated OAM packet via a Border Gateway Protocol message.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2021
From: BRISSETTE, PATRICE; SCHMUTZER, CHRISTIAN; CHIESA, LUCA DELLA
To: CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 055770/0971 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220321451A1 · Oct 6, 2022