MA Integrity Checking via MEP Source Port Comparison
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing IEEE802.1ag standard does not provide a method to determine or ensure the integrity of a maintenance association (MA), which is crucial for performing operation, administration, and maintenance (OAM) tests among maintenance end points (MEPs, as isolated and unmated MEPs can disrupt MA integrity.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that periodically send a request for joining the MA, compare source port information with a local MEP table, and determine the existence of matching MEPs to assess MA integrity, ensuring no isolated MEPs exist, thereby allowing OAM testing among MEPs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the IEEE802.1ag standard is used to define MA and MEPs, then OAM tests can be performed among MEPs in an MA, but the standard does not provide a method to determine or ensure MA integrity, resulting in isolated MEPs that cannot be OAM tested
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having MEPs proactively send join requests before participating in OAM tests. The integrity checking mechanism preemptively verifies MA composition by comparing received join requests against the local MEP table, preventing isolated MEPs from causing test failures later in the process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback through the periodic exchange of join requests and responses between MEPs. The receiving MEP compares source port information from join requests against its local MEP table and provides feedback about MA integrity status, enabling continuous verification and correction of isolated MEP conditions
2Reliability
If periodic join requests are sent to check MA integrity, then isolated MEPs can be identified and corrected, but network traffic and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by having MEPs send join requests at regular intervals rather than continuously. This periodic verification maintains MA integrity detection capability while significantly reducing network traffic overhead compared to continuous checking, balancing reliability verification with energy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling MEPs to autonomously verify their own inclusion in the MA using their existing local MEP tables. Each MEP independently processes join requests and performs comparisons without requiring external verification mechanisms, reducing overall network overhead while maintaining integrity checking
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention discloses a method for checking MA integrity, including: creating an MEP a; determining, by an MEP c in an MA, whether an MEP b with the same source port information as the MEP a exists in the MA; if there exists an MEP b with the same source port information as the MEP a in the MA, no isolated and unmated MEP exists in the MA; if an MEP b with the same source information as the MEP a does not exist in the MA, an isolated MEP exists in the MA. The present invention also discloses an apparatus for checking an MA integrity and a method and an apparatus for adding an MEP. The present invention enables a user to know whether an MA is integral and ensures MA integrity.