DDCFM Maintenance Point Using Reflection and Decapsulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing solutions fail to provide a consistent and efficient implementation of Data Driven Connection Fault Management (DDCFM) in Maintenance Points, particularly in identifying egress ports for DDCFM or DDCFM-related frames through a bridge, and do not interrupt normal CFM operation.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a CFM maintenance point with a Reflection Responder, an RFM Receiver, and a Decapsulator Responder, which select and encapsulate frames with specific opcodes, and selectively forward them to analyze or multiplex them, ensuring efficient DDCFM operation without disrupting normal CFM functions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If DDCFM functionality is implemented in Maintenance Points, then fault detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements DDCFM functionality within existing Maintenance Point structures, allowing the same device to perform both traditional CFM operations and DDCFM fault detection. The Reflection Responder, RFM Receiver, and Decapsulator Responder are integrated into the Maintenance Point, enabling it to handle multiple functions (frame reflection, RFM reception, decapsulation) without requiring separate dedicated devices, thus improving fault detection capability while managing device complexity through multi-functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If frame selection and encapsulation is performed for DDCFM, then fault isolation precision is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault isolation precisionVSAvoidprocessing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements frame selection criteria and encapsulation rules in advance within the Maintenance Point configuration. The system pre-defines which frames should be reflected, received, or decapsulated based on predetermined criteria, allowing rapid processing during operation without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus achieving precise fault isolation while minimizing processing time overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If DDCFM operations are performed, then fault detection accuracy is improved, but normal CFM operation may be disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection accuracyVSAvoidnormal CFM operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the frame handling process into distinct functional components: the Reflection Responder handles frame reflection, the RFM Receiver manages RFM frame reception, and the Decapsulator Responder performs decapsulation. Each component operates independently with specific selection criteria, allowing DDCFM operations to be performed on specific frame types without interfering with normal CFM operations on other frames, thus improving fault detection accuracy while maintaining CFM reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2158728B1Data driven connection fault management (DDCFM) in CFM maintenance points
Publication Date: 2014.07.23 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2158728B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2158728B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2158728B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A Connection Fault Management, CFM, maintenance point and method for providing Data Driven Connection Fault Management, DDCFM, in CFM maintenance points in a communication network. A Reflection Responder (30), an RFM Receiver (40), and a Decapsulator Responder (50) are implemented in existing CFM maintenance points. The Reflection Responder (30) selects frames to be reflected, mirrors the selected frames if a Continuation option is se and encapsulates the selected frames with Return Frame Message, RFM, OpCode. The RFM Receiver (40) sends received RFM frames to an analyzer (42) if addressed to the maintenance point and otherwise to a passive multiplexer (33). The Decapsulator Responder (50) decapsulates Send Frame Message, SFM, frames and sends decapsulated frames toward the destination specified in each frame.