Unified Hierarchical Flow Point Model for PTN and IPRAN Protection Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Packet Transport Network (PTN) and Internet Protocol Radio Access Network (IPRAN) technologies do not perfectly meet the requirements for bearer networks, leading to a need for integrating their protection switching methods to enhance reliability and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A network protection switching method that unifies path switching decision-making methods for PTN and IPRAN by determining a hierarchically distributed flow point model, optimizing path information, and configuring OAM labels to ensure effective path selection and protection in each flow point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If PTN and IPRAN technologies are integrated to meet bearer network requirements, then network reliability and efficiency are improved, but design complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork reliabilityVSAvoiddesign complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the protection switching system into distinct functional modules: OAM packet receiving and transmitting module, alarm detecting module, exchange processing module, alarm propagating module, and protection group policy decision module. Each module handles specific tasks independently, allowing PTN and IPRAN technologies to be integrated through standardized interfaces while maintaining manageable design complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces OAM (Operation, Administration and Maintenance) packets as intermediary elements that carry alarm information between different network layers and technologies. These standardized OAM mechanisms serve as a common language between PTN and IPRAN, enabling seamless integration without direct complex interactions between the two technologies.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of time

If hierarchical OAM mechanism is implemented for fine monitoring and detection, then failure judgment speed and network controllability are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefailure judgment speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hierarchical OAM mechanism is segmented into multiple levels: physical layer OAM for link monitoring, LSP (Label Switched Path) layer OAM for path monitoring, and service layer OAM for end-to-end service monitoring. Each level operates independently with specific monitoring objectives, enabling fast failure detection at appropriate granularities while keeping each OAM subsystem relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary OAM configuration where monitoring parameters, alarm thresholds, and response policies are pre-configured in the protection group policy decision module. This allows the system to immediately detect and respond to failures without complex real-time decision-making, improving failure judgment speed while maintaining system simplicity through pre-planned responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3182645B1Network protection switching method, network device and storage medium
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 ZTE CORP
  • EP3182645B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3182645B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP3182645B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention are a network protection switching method, comprising: a hierarchically flow point model is determined according to all ports corresponding to a Packet Transport Network (PTN) or an Internet Protocol (IP) Radio Access Network (IPRAN) or physical ports or a set of physical port in a physical connection channel layer; and according to the flow model, determining a corresponding switching decision method of a service of the PTN or the IPRAN is determined. The embodiments of the present invention also disclose a network device and a storage medium.