# US 10,122,586 B2 · Physical adjacency detection systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,586 B2 - Document ID: US10122586B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/880,545 - Filed: 2015-10-12 - Published: 2017-04-13 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-12 - Assignees: Ciena Corporation - Applicants: Ciena Corporation - Inventors: Aung Htay; Mallikarjunappa Kore; Yuan-Ning Weng - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122586B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/12: Discovery or management of network topologies - H04L 41/40: using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities - H04L 45/02: Topology update or discovery - H04L 45/42: Centralised routing - H04L 45/64: using an overlay routing layer - H04L 45/70: {Routing based on monitoring results} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Adjacency detection systems and methods configured to detect physical interconnection between two devices in a network include communicating data with one or more controllers and data sources associated with the network; for a given port in the network to detect a corresponding port physically connected thereto, causing orchestration of changes in performance monitoring data for the given port over a period of time; and analyzing the data subsequent to the orchestration to detect the corresponding port. The systems and methods can operate over multiple network layers, with different vendor equipment, independent of network protocols, and in-service. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjacency detection method configured to detect physical interconnection between two devices in a network, the adjacency detection method comprising: obtaining data associated with the network from one or more controllers; for a given port on a device in the network to detect a corresponding port on another device physically connected thereto, causing orchestration of changes in performance monitoring data for the given port over a period of time, wherein the changes in performance monitoring data comprise modifying transmit power of the given port over the period of time to send a bit pattern that comprises data that identifies the given port, wherein the transmit power is modified while the port operates in-service and a specific power level is used for a 1 bit, a 0 bit, and a framing bit; and analyzing the data subsequent to the orchestration to detect the corresponding port, wherein the causing and analyzing are performed by a higher-layer application associated with the one or more controllers providing vendor independence and layer independence. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjacency detection method of claim 1, further comprising: updating a topology of the network based on the orchestration. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjacency detection method of claim 1, further comprising: verifying the corresponding port is connected to the given port by causing a second orchestration of changes in performance monitoring data for the corresponding port and analyzing the data subsequent to the second orchestration from the corresponding port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adjacency detection method of claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises determining which port in the network exhibits Performance Monitoring (PM) data for receiving a signal similar to the data that identifies the given port. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adjacency detection method of claim 1, further comprising: analyzing historical performance monitoring data and equipment specifications in the network to determine the changes in performance monitoring data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adjacency detection method of claim 1, wherein the one or more controllers comprise at least one Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The adjacency detection method of claim 1, wherein the network comprises one or more layers and one or more different vendors for network elements included therein. ### Claim 8 An adjacency detection system configured to detect physical interconnection between two devices in a network, the adjacency detection method comprising: a network interface communicatively coupled with one or more controllers associated with the network; a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to obtain data associated with the network from the one or more controllers, for a given port on a device in the network to detect a corresponding port at another device physically connected thereto, cause orchestration of changes in performance monitoring data for the given port over a period of time, wherein the changes in performance monitoring data comprise a modification of transmit power of the given port over the period of time to send a bit pattern that comprises data that identifies the given port, wherein the transmit power is modified while the port operates in-service and a specific power level is used for a 1 bit, a 0 bit, and a framing bit, and analyze the data subsequent to the orchestration to detect the corresponding port, wherein the changes and analysis are performed by a higher-layer application associated with the one or more controllers providing vendor independence and layer independence. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The adjacency detection system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to update a topology of the network based on the orchestration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The adjacency detection system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to verify the corresponding port is connected to the given port by causing a second orchestration of changes in performance monitoring data for the corresponding port and analyzing the data subsequent to the second orchestration from the corresponding port. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The adjacency detection system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to determine which port in the network exhibits Performance Monitoring (PM) data for receiving a signal similar to the data that identifies the given port. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The adjacency detection system of claim 8, wherein the memory storing instructions that, when executed, further cause the processor to analyze historical performance monitoring data and equipment specifications in the network to determine the changes in performance monitoring data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The adjacency detection system of claim 8, wherein the one or more controllers comprise at least one Software Defined Networking (SDN) controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The adjacency detection system of claim 8, wherein the network comprises one or more layers and one or more different vendors for network elements included therein. ### Claim 15 (depends on 8) The adjacency detection system of claim 8, wherein the adjacency detection system is a Software Defined Networking (SDN) application. ### Claim 16 A multi-layer network, comprising: a plurality of network elements interconnected to one another at a plurality of layers; one or more controllers communicatively coupled to the plurality of network elements; and a server communicatively coupled to the one or more controllers, wherein the server is configured to obtain data associated with the network from the one or more controllers and data sources, for a given port on a network element in the network to detect a corresponding port on another network element physically connected thereto, cause orchestration of changes in performance monitoring data for the given port over a period of time, wherein the changes in performance monitoring data comprise a modification of transmit power of the given port over the period of time to send a bit pattern that comprises data that identifies the given port, wherein the transmit power is modified while the port operates in-service and a specific power level is used for a 1 bit, a 0 bit, and a framing bit, and analyze the data subsequent to the orchestration to detect the corresponding port, wherein the changes and analysis are performed by a higher-layer application associated with the one or more controllers providing vendor independence and layer independence.