Network Relay Device OAM Frame Identification Across Standards
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network relay devices fail to properly maintain and operate networks when transmitting or receiving Ethernet OAM frames between different standard networks, as they cannot determine and process these frames correctly, leading to incomplete network maintenance and operation.
Innovation Solution
A network relay device equipped with a frame determination unit that identifies Ethernet OAM frames using protocol identifiers like Ether Type, allowing it to perform operation, administration, or maintenance tasks when such frames are received from external networks with different standards, and a processing unit that processes these frames accordingly, even when they are encapsulated.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a network relay device uses conventional Ethernet OAM frame processing, then it can process OAM frames within the same standard network, but it cannot properly identify and process OAM frames from different standard networks (e.g., IEEE802.1ad and IEEE802.1ah)
Solution Approach 1:
The network relay device is designed to handle multiple network standards (IEEE802.1ad and IEEE802.1ah) simultaneously. The frame determination unit can identify OAM frames from different standards by referencing protocol identifiers, and the processing unit can appropriately process these frames according to their respective standards, enabling the device to serve multiple network environments
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an outer OAM header as an intermediary structure that encapsulates the inner OAM frame. This outer header contains protocol identifiers that allow the network relay device to recognize and properly process OAM frames from different standards, acting as a mediator between heterogeneous network standards
2Ease of operation
If the network relay device discards OAM frames from external networks without proper identification, then it maintains simple processing logic, but it cannot perform network maintenance and operation across different standard networks
Solution Approach 1:
The processing unit is divided into functional segments: a frame determination unit that references protocol identifiers to identify OAM frames, and a processing unit that executes appropriate operations. This segmentation allows each component to focus on specific tasks, making the overall system more manageable despite handling multiple standards
Solution Approach 2:
The frame determination unit performs preliminary identification of OAM frames by referencing protocol identifiers in the outer OAM header before the processing unit executes operations. This preliminary action ensures that only properly identified frames are processed, preventing incorrect processing while maintaining clear processing logic
Data Source
AI summary
A network relay device constituting a network includes a frame determination unit for referencing a protocol identifier contained in a frame from an external network relay device constituting another standard network different from the network, to determine whether or not the frame contains a confirmation frame for network operation, administration or maintenance, and a processing unit for performing operation, administration, or maintenance on the frame, when the frame determination unit determines that the frame is the confirmation frame.