Switch Node Misconnection Avoidance via TDM Identification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In circuit switched networks and hybrid circuit switched/packet switched networks, the existing Generalized Multiprotocol Label Switching (GMPLS) protocol faces issues with misconnection and unacceptable protection delays due to pre-emption of lower priority protecting connections during multiple network failures, leading to potential misdirection of data traffic.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses unique identifications for each user connection to validate and manage data packets, ensuring they do not reach unintended destinations, thereby allowing immediate activation of protecting connections without waiting for end-to-end acknowledgments, and using time division multiplexing protocols to manage reserved resources and wavelengths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the system waits for end-to-end acknowledgments before switching traffic to protecting connections, then connection reliability is improved, but protection delay increases to unacceptable levels

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidprotection delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring protecting connections and pre-establishing alternative paths before failures occur. When a working connection fails, the protecting connection is already prepared and can immediately take over without waiting for acknowledgment delays, thus reducing protection delay while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system skips the traditional acknowledgment waiting step by using mechanism-based switching that relies on pre-configured protection paths. The traffic is rapidly switched to protecting connections through pre-established mechanisms, rushing through the delay-causing acknowledgment phase while ensuring connection reliability through prior configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

2Productivity

If multiple protecting connections share the same network resources, then resource utilization is improved, but misconnection risk increases during pre-emption events

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidconnection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the shared network resources by introducing unique identifiers for each protecting connection. This segmentation allows multiple protecting connections to share physical resources while maintaining logical separation through identification, preventing misconnection during pre-emption events while preserving resource utilization benefits

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor connection status and verify proper routing. When pre-emption occurs, the feedback system ensures that traffic is correctly directed to the intended protecting connection by validating connection identifiers, thus maintaining connection accuracy while allowing resource sharing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Speed

If the system immediately activates protecting connections without waiting for acknowledgments, then protection speed is improved, but misconnection risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection speedVSAvoidrouting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary configuration of protecting connections including setting up unique identifiers and routing rules before activation is needed. This preliminary action enables immediate switching speed while the pre-configured identification mechanisms prevent misconnection by ensuring correct routing from the start

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces unique connection identifiers as intermediaries between the traffic and the protecting connections. These identifiers act as mediators that enable rapid switching while preventing misconnection by ensuring traffic is directed to the correct protecting connection through identifier matching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9832107B2Misconnection avoidance on networks

Publication Date: 2017.11.28 INFINERA CORP

AI summary

A switch node provided with a switch, an input interface and an output interface. The input interface is adapted to couple to a first communication link to receive a first TDM frame having a user payload field containing a first user data from the first communication link, and a frame overhead field containing a first identification. The input interface is configured to validate the first identification in the frame overhead field and reject the first TDM frame responsive to the first identification being invalid, and to forward the first user data to the switch responsive to the first identification being valid. The output interface is adapted to couple to a second communication link. The output interface is configured to receive the first user data from the switch, and to generate a second TDM frame having a second user payload field containing the first user data, and a second frame overhead field containing a second identification that is different from the first identification. The output interface is also configured to transmit the second TDM frame onto the second communication link.