# US 10,484,764 B2 · Coordinated and scheduled standards-based intervals in network elements > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,484,764 B2 - Document ID: US10484764B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/860,898 - Filed: 2018-01-03 - Published: 2019-07-04 - Granted: 2019-11-19 - Earliest claimed: 2018-01-03 - Assignees: Ciena Corporation - Applicants: Ciena Corporation - Inventors: Gregory Vanderydt; Geraldine Ruth Civil; Kevin Estabrooks; Jeffrey Norman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10484764B2 ## CPC - H04Q 11/0066: {Provisions for optical burst or packet networks} - H04J 3/1652: {Optical Transport Network [OTN]} - H04J 14/08: Time-division multiplex systems - H04L 69/18: Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols - H04L 69/28: Timers or timing mechanisms used in protocols - H04J 2203/0057: Operations, administration and maintenance [OAM] - H04Q 2011/0064: {Arbitration, scheduling or medium access control aspects} - H04Q 2011/0079: {Operation or maintenance aspects} - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) - H04J: MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION (transmission in general H04B; peculiar to transmission of digital information H04L5/00; systems for the simultaneous or sequential transmission of more than one television signal H04N7/08; in exchanges H04Q11/00; stereophonic systems H04S) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Systems and methods of coordinating and scheduling intervals in a network element in a network include configuring one or more attributes of a plurality of timer-based events at the network element, wherein the plurality of timer-based events include protocol-based actions which are performed responsive to expiry of an associated timer, and wherein the one or more attributes define when the protocol-based actions occur; operating one or more services at one or more protocols; and performing associated protocol-based actions based on the one or more attributes and based on expiry of the associated timer. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of coordinating and scheduling intervals in a network element in a network, the method comprising: configuring one or more attributes of a plurality of timer-based events at the network element, wherein the plurality of timer-based events comprise protocol-based actions which are performed responsive to expiry of an associated timer, and wherein the one or more attributes define when the protocol-based actions occur, wherein the one or more attributes define a grouping of different timers required to expire before an associated protocol-based action can occur; operating one or more services at one or more protocols; and performing associated protocol-based actions based on the one or more attributes and based on expiry of the associated timer. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more protocols comprises any of photonic, Optical Transport Network (OTN), Time Division Multiplexed (TDM), and packet protocols. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the protocol-based actions comprise re-optimization events, resizing events, and reversion events. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more attributes define time of day when the protocol-based actions occur. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the one or more attributes further define event temporal stagger between uncorrelated protocol-based actions between different protocols. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more attributes constrain an associated protocol-based action unless associated timers have expired for all services with a common group variable and a current time is within the time window within which the associated protocol-based action is allowed to occur. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: synchronizing a clock at the network element utilizing a timing synchronization protocol in the network. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the grouping further defines a stagger time to prevent multiple events occurring concurrently or close to one another. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: triggering one or more of the associated protocol-based actions based on the expiry of the associated timer opportunistically overriding the one or more attributes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring is via a table including the plurality of timer-based events with associated protocol-based actions and associated one or more attributes. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the configuring is performed by an operator via any of a management system, a control plane, and an orchestrator. ### Claim 12 A network element in a network configured to coordinate and schedule intervals, the network element comprising: one or more ports configured to operate one or more services at one or more protocols; and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more ports, wherein the controller is configured to configure one or more attributes of a plurality of timer-based events, wherein the plurality of timer-based events comprise protocol-based actions which are performed responsive to expiry of an associated timer, and wherein the one or more attributes define when the protocol-based actions occur, and cause performance of associated protocol-based actions based on the one or more attributes and based on expiry of the associated timer, wherein the one or more attributes constrain an associated protocol-based action unless associated timers have expired for all services with a common group variable and a current time is within a time window within which the associated protocol-based action is allowed to occur. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The network element of claim 12, wherein the one or more protocols comprises any of photonic, Optical Transport Network (OTN), Time Division Multiplexed (TDM), and packet protocols. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The network element of claim 12, wherein the protocol-based actions comprise re-optimization events, resizing events, and reversion events. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The network element of claim 12, wherein the one or more attributes define time of day when the protocol-based actions occur. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The network element of claim 12, wherein the one or more attributes define a grouping of different timers required to expire before an associated protocol-based action can occur. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The network element of claim 12, wherein the configuring is via a table including the plurality of timer-based events with associated protocol-based actions and associated one or more attributes. ### Claim 18 A network element in a network configured to coordinate and schedule intervals, the network element comprising: one or more ports configured to operate one or more services at one or more protocols; and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more ports, wherein the controller is configured to receive one or more attributes of a plurality of timer-based events from by an operator via any of a management system, a control plane, and an orchestrator, configure the one or more attributes of the plurality of timer-based events, wherein the plurality of timer-based events comprise protocol-based actions which are performed responsive to expiry of an associated timer, and wherein the one or more attributes define when the protocol-based actions occur and the one or more attributes define a grouping of different timers required to expire before an associated protocol-based action can occur, and cause performance of associated protocol-based actions based on the one or more attributes and based on expiry of the associated timer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The network element of claim 18, wherein the one or more protocols comprises any of photonic, Optical Transport Network (OTN), Time Division Multiplexed (TDM), and packet protocols. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The network element of claim 18, wherein the protocol-based actions comprise re-optimization events, resizing events, and reversion events.