Hybrid Distributed Linear Protection for Multi-Domain Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network communication protocols, such as G.8031 Ethernet Linear Protection, G.873.1 OTN Linear Protection, and MPLS-TP Linear Protection, face challenges in efficiently managing protection switching between working and protect paths, particularly in multi-domain networks, leading to potential service disruptions and increased complexity in handling failures.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hybrid distributed linear protection system that provides dedicated 1:1 protection switching to each client within an administrative domain and performs 1:N protection switching on intraportal links, using linear automatic protection switching (APS) messages to translate and activate protection path segments, thereby isolating protection events and reducing the impact on other domains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated 1:1 protection switching is provided to each client in the administrative network domain, then reliability is improved for individual clients, but device complexity increases due to multiple path pairs required for each client
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple 1:1 protection relationships into a shared 1:N protection structure at the node portal. Multiple clients share common protect paths and APS messaging infrastructure, reducing the number of independent protection mechanisms while maintaining individual client reliability through the shared protection framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The node portal is designed with universal protection capabilities that can serve multiple clients simultaneously through shared protect paths. The APS messaging system and protection switching mechanism function universally across all clients in the administrative domain, eliminating the need for dedicated separate infrastructure for each client.
2Device complexity
If 1:N protection switching is performed on intraportal links, then device complexity is reduced through resource sharing, but reliability decreases due to shared protection resources among multiple clients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the protection domain into administrative network domains with defined boundaries. The node portal acts as a boundary element that isolates protection events within its domain, preventing cascading failures across multiple domains while maintaining shared 1:N protection resources. This segmentation allows resource sharing without compromising overall system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The node portal serves as an intermediary between multiple clients and the protection switching infrastructure. It translates between individual client protection requirements and shared protect paths, managing resource allocation and failure isolation. This intermediary role enables reliable 1:N protection by coordinating access to shared resources and preventing conflicts.
3Adaptability or versatility
If linear APS messages are translated into shared mesh protection messages, then adaptability is improved for multi-domain networks, but device complexity increases due to message translation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The node portal acts as a message translation intermediary between linear APS messaging protocols and shared mesh protection messaging protocols. It receives linear APS messages from clients, translates them into appropriate shared mesh protection messages for the intraportal link, and vice versa. This intermediary function enables multi-domain network compatibility without requiring end-to-end protocol uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the messaging protocol parameters at the node portal boundary. Linear APS messages with specific formatting and content requirements are transformed into shared mesh protection messages with different parameters. This parameter transformation enables compatibility across different protocol domains while centralizing the complexity at the translation boundary rather than requiring universal complexity throughout the network.
4Reliability
If protection events are isolated within administrative domains, then reliability is improved by preventing cascading failures, but loss of information occurs due to reduced notification of network elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into administrative domains with clear boundaries at node portals. Protection events are contained within their originating domain through this segmentation, preventing cascading failures to other domains. The segmentation maintains sufficient information flow within each domain to enable appropriate protection switching while naturally limiting the propagation of failure notifications beyond domain boundaries.
Solution Approach 2:
The node portal extracts and processes protection event information at the domain boundary. It receives protection notifications, determines whether they should be propagated to other domains, and selectively forwards or suppresses notifications. This extraction and selective forwarding mechanism ensures that sufficient information is retained for reliable protection switching within the domain while preventing unnecessary propagation of isolated events to other domains.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for linear protection for a network element communicatively coupled to another network element included in a node portal located at the edge of an administrative network domain includes exchanging linear automatic protection switching (“APS”) messages with clients in the administrative network domain over one or more path pairs. The path pairs include a working path communicatively coupling a client and the network element and a protect path communicatively coupling a client and the other network element. The method also includes translating the linear APS messages into a shared mesh protection message and exchanging the shared mesh protection message between the network element and the other network element over an intraportal link. The shared mesh protection messages include information concerning a plurality of working paths.