Protection Switching Timer for Invalid Path Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In subnetwork connection protection (SNCP) mechanisms, invalid protection switching occurs due to asynchronous detection of faults on working and protection paths, leading to inefficient network maintenance and increased reporting of switching events and alarms.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a protection switching method that starts a timer for a fault confirmation time when a path is detected as faulty or recovering, allowing for re-detection of path statuses before performing protection switching, thereby avoiding invalid switching.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If protection switching is triggered immediately upon detecting a fault on the working path, then the response speed to faults is improved, but invalid protection switching occurs when both working and protection paths are faulty simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefault detection speedVSAvoidprotection switching accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by starting a timer upon detecting a fault on the working path before actually executing the protection switching. This timer allows the system to preemptively check whether the protection path is also faulty, preventing invalid switching before it occurs. The timer mechanism enables advance verification of path status, ensuring that switching only happens when the protection path is genuinely available.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If protection switching is performed without verifying path statuses, then the switching operation speed is improved, but network maintenance efficiency deteriorates due to frequent invalid switching events and alarms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection switching efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork maintenance time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the status of both working and protection paths during the timer period. When a fault is detected on the working path, the system uses feedback from path status checks to determine whether to proceed with protection switching. This feedback mechanism ensures that switching decisions are based on real-time path conditions, preventing invalid switching and reducing unnecessary maintenance interventions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3139527B1Protection switching method, node and control device
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3139527B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3139527B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3139527B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide a protection switching method, a node, and a control device, where the method includes: receiving an instruction message that includes a fault confirmation time, where the instruction message is used to instruct to perform protection switching according to the fault confirmation time; when it is detected that a first path is faulty, or when it is detected that a fault on a second path disappears, starting a timer whose duration is the fault confirmation time; when it is determined that the timer expires, re-detecting statuses of the first path and the second path; and determining whether to perform protection switching according to a re-detection result of the first path and the second path. The protection switching method, the node, and the control device in the embodiments of the present invention can effectively avoid invalid protection switching, and can further improve protection switching efficiency.