Network data routing protection cycles for automatic protection switching

A method of processing data packets in the event of a link failure of a routing node that delivers data packets to a data network via a plurality of links, the method comprising:

• identifying, as protection cycle packets, data packets having a specific protection cycle format that includes a packet source and a packet destination;
• and
• processing each protection cycle packet to determine whether the packet destination corresponds to the routing node, and:
• (i) if the packet destination corresponds to the routing node, the protection cycle packet is treated by the routing node as a data packet received from the packet source via the failed link;
• and
• (ii) if the packet destination does not correspond to the routing node, the protection cycle packet is sent to a protection cycle node for the routing node.

A data router that delivers data packets to a computer network via a plurality of links, the router processing data packets in the event of a link failure, the router comprising:

• a data interface for data packets to enter and exit the router;
• and
• a protection cycle manager including:
• a protection cycle packet identifier that identifies, as protection cycle packets, data packets having a specific protection cycle format that includes a packet source and a packet destination;
• and
• a protection cycle packet processor that processes each protection cycle packet to determine whether the packet destination corresponds to the routing node, and:
• (i) if the packet destination corresponds to the router, the protection cycle packet is treated by the router as a data packet received from the packet source via the failed link, and,
• (ii) if the packet destination does not correspond to the routing node, the protection cycle packet is sent to a protection cycle node for the router.

A computer network having a plurality of data packet streams, the network comprising:

• a plurality of subnetworks, each subnetwork having at least one application that generates a stream of data packets for transmission over the computer network;
• and
• a plurality of routers that deliver data packets to the network via a plurality of links, at least one router processing data packets in the event of a link failure, the at least one router including:
• a plurality of data interfaces for streams of data packets to enter and exit the at least one router;
• and
• a protection cycle manager having:
• a protection cycle packet identifier that identifies, as protection cycle packets, data packets having a specific protection cycle format that includes a packet source and a packet destination;
• and
• a protection cycle packet processor that processes each protection cycle packet to determine whether the packet destination corresponds to the routing node, and:
• (i) if the packet destination corresponds to the at least one router, the protection cycle packet is treated by the at least one router as a data packet received from the packet source via the failed link, and,
• (ii) if the packet destination does not correspond to the routing node, the protection cycle packet is sent to a protection cycle node for the at least one router.

A computer program product for use on a computer system for processing data packets in the event of a link failure of a routing node that delivers data packets to a computer network via a plurality of links, the computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code including:

• program code for identifying, as protection cycle packets, data packets having a specific protection cycle format that includes a packet source and a packet destination;
• and
• program code for processing each protection cycle packet to determine whether the packet destination corresponds to the routing node, and:
• (i) if the packet destination corresponds to the routing node, the protection cycle packet is treated by the routing node as a data packet received from the packet source via the failed link, and,
• (ii) if the packet destination does not correspond to the routing node, the protection cycle packet is sent to a protection cycle node for the routing node.

A protection cycle manager that processes data packets in the event of a link failure of a routing node that delivers data packets to a computer network via a plurality of links, the protection cycle manager comprising:

• means for identifying, as protection cycle packets, data packets having a specific protection cycle format that includes a packet source and a packet destination;
• and
• means for processing each protection cycle packet to determine whether the packet destination corresponds to the routing node, and:
• (i) if the packet destination corresponds to the routing node, the protection cycle packet is treated by the routing node as a data packet received from the packet source via the failed link;
• and
• (ii) if the packet destination does not correspond to the routing node, the protection cycle packet is sent to a protection cycle node for the routing node.