Client-Side Switch Fabric for Traffic Recovery at Interworking Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for traffic recovery at boundary nodes in optical backbone networks require expensive dual switching fabrics for both client and OTN networks, making them prohibitively costly, especially in customer-located equipment scenarios where only a few traffic-carrying paths are interfaced.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where the client-side equipment provides recovery switching functionality by using a switch fabric to simulate traffic recovery between interworking interfaces, eliminating the need for a separate recovery/protection switching function in the line-side equipment, thereby reducing costs and maintaining network reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dual switching fabrics are provided for both client and OTN networks at boundary nodes, then traffic recovery and protection capability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the recovery switching function into the existing client-side switching fabric, eliminating the need for a separate line-side switching fabric. The client-side fabric is configured to perform both client network switching and OTN traffic recovery switching, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining traffic recovery capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The client-side switching fabric is designed to serve multiple functions: it performs switching for the client network and simultaneously provides recovery switching for OTN traffic. This multi-functionality allows a single switching fabric to replace what would traditionally require two separate fabrics, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If dual switching fabrics are deployed at customer-located equipment, then network protection is ensured, but implementation cost becomes prohibitively expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the recovery switching function with the client-side switching fabric, eliminating the need for a separate line-side switching fabric at customer-located equipment. This merger significantly reduces hardware requirements and implementation cost while maintaining network protection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the existing client-side switching fabric, which is already deployed and paid for, to provide additional recovery switching functionality. Rather than adding expensive new hardware, the solution repurposes existing resources, making the implementation cost-effective.
Data Source
AI summary
A boundary node for interworking between a first network and a second network comprises first equipment for interfacing with the first network and second equipment for interfacing with the second network. The first equipment comprises a switch fabric. A first interworking interface and a second interworking interface are provided for carrying traffic between the second equipment and the first equipment. Each of the interworking interfaces is for interfacing with a respective traffic-carrying path of the second network. For traffic flow in a direction from the second network to the first network, a method comprises determining that recovery switching is required for traffic on one of the traffic-carrying paths of the second network and performs a recovery switch, using the switch fabric in the first equipment, to switch between the interworking interfaces to achieve a recovery switch between the traffic-carrying paths of the second network.