Layer 2 Switch Carrier Tag Handling Classification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current access networks face challenges in efficiently handling and routing diverse communication services due to the need for costly and complex network elements that must interface with various protocols and service types, lacking flexibility to adapt to changing bandwidth and service requirements.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for providing a high-density multiple-protocol crossconnect in an access network using carrier tags with handling classification fields, allowing for efficient switching and routing of communications across different service types by applying carrier tags to traffic flows and interpreting these tags to manage and process them appropriately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If access network elements are equipped to interface with and operate upon flows for each service type independently, then service compatibility is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces carrier tags as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between diverse service types and the network element. Instead of requiring the network element to directly understand and process multiple protocol formats, the carrier tag serves as a universal intermediary that carries service type information, allowing a single simplified network element to handle multiple services through tag-based routing and processing
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate provisioning is performed for each service type, then service configuration flexibility is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal provisioning framework where a single provisioning mechanism can configure multiple service types simultaneously. The carrier tag-based architecture allows service profiles to be defined once and applied across different service types, eliminating the need for separate provisioning operations for each service while maintaining full configuration flexibility
3Adaptability or versatility
If network elements handle each service format, addressing and protocol aspects independently, then service support capability is improved, but scalability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the service type identification and routing functionality from the network element's core processing. By placing service type information in carrier tags that are processed separately from the actual data payload, the network element can scale independently - the tag processing can be handled by simple lookup tables while the data payload processing remains unaffected, enabling linear scalability
Data Source
AI summary
System and method for providing a layer 2 switch in the access network that switches based upon one or more carrier tags identifying customer traffic. Customer traffic conforming to any variety of different layer 1 or layer 2 protocols may be encapsulated and identified according to carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may determine how to handle the traffic by interpreting and manipulating the carrier tag values. The layer 2 switch may be capable of switching TDM input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic, and switching packetized input traffic to either TDM or packet output traffic. Handling classification values may also be processed by the layer 2 switch to affect prioritization of handling of encapsulated traffic.