Distributed Protection Switching via Traffic Bit
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face challenges in uninterrupted traffic flow due to network failures, particularly in ring networks where protection switching techniques are limited by the need for congruent working and protection paths at every node.
Innovation Solution
A distributed protection switching method where a traffic bit (t-bit) is defined across communication devices, with one device acting as a master node and others as slave nodes, to detect link failures and reroute traffic using existing protection methods, ensuring continuous data flow by broadcasting fault status and prioritizing traffic rerouting among slave nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If protection switching is implemented in ring networks using traditional protection groups, then network traffic can be protected against failures, but the working and protection paths must be congruent at every node which limits flexibility and increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the protection switching function into separate components: continuity check messages are independently monitored between traffic source and each communication device, and the t-bit mechanism is independently implemented at each node. This segmentation allows protection switching without requiring congruent protection groups at every node, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces continuity check messages as intermediary signals that flow between the traffic source and communication devices. These messages serve as mediators to detect link failures and trigger protection switching, eliminating the need for complex congruent protection group configurations at each node while ensuring reliable traffic protection.
2Reliability
If continuity check messages are monitored at every node, then link failures can be detected reliably, but the predetermined time period for fault detection may cause traffic interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary fault detection by continuously monitoring continuity check messages before actual traffic flow is affected. The predetermined time period threshold is pre-configured to detect failures early, triggering protection switching before significant traffic interruption occurs, thus reducing both detection time and traffic loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback mechanism where continuity check messages provide real-time information about link status to each communication device. This feedback loop allows the system to continuously monitor link health and immediately trigger protection switching when failures are detected, minimizing fault detection time while maintaining reliable failure identification.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a protection switching for use in a communication network, and more particularly, to a method and a system for protection switching provision by a distributed or extended protection group in a communication network. In one embodiment, this can be accomplished by defining a traffic bit (t-bit) on all the communication devices in the network, assigning at least one communication device as master node and other devices as slave node, determining a fault if continuity check message is not received in a predetermined time period between the master node and the traffic source, carrying of status information, reliably, between communication devices using existing protection or restoration methods, broadcasting by setting the bit ‘t’=1 (or ‘t’=0) by the master node to all other slave nodes thereby notifying about the fault (or clearance of fault) towards traffic source and receiving the traffic from the traffic source by the other available slave nodes when master node's link towards traffic source fails.