Method for network layer restoration using spare interfaces connected to a reconfigurable transport network
AssigneeAtt Corp.
InventorsRobert Duncan Doverspike, Kenneth A. Duell, Charles Robert Kalmanek JR., Guangzhi Li, Panagiotis Sebos, Dongmei Wang, Jennifer Yates
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Abstract
The present invention utilizes spare restoration capacity in a re-configurable transport network to help recover from IP layer failures as well as to handle sudden bursts in IP traffic loads.
Claims16
A method of operating an internet protocol (IP) network comprising a plurality of routers, each router further comprising a plurality of interfaces, the method comprising the steps of:
- connecting a spare interface on a first router in the IP network to a re-configurable transport network which provides connectivity to a spare interface on a second router in the IP network;
- upon detection of a pre-designated condition in the IP network, switching traffic designated for a primary interface at the first router to the spare interface at the first router in the IP network, thereby causing the traffic to flow across spare capacity on the re-configurable transport network between the spare interface on the first router and the spare interface on the second router in the IP network.
A device-readable medium storing program instructions for performing a method of operating a router in an Internet Protocol (IP) network, the router further comprising a routing table and a plurality of interfaces including a spare interface providing connectivity through a re-configurable transport network to a spare interface on a second router in the IP network, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a signal indicating a pre-designated condition in the IP network;
- reconfiguring the routing table in the router so as to switch traffic designated for a primary interface at the router to the spare interface at the router, thereby causing the traffic to flow across spare capacity on the re-configurable transport network between the spare interface on the router and the spare interface on the second router in the IP network.
An Internet Protocol (IP) router comprising:
- a plurality of interfaces including at least one primary interface and a spare interface providing connectivity through a re-configurable transport network to a spare interface on a second router in an IP network;
- a routing table that, upon receipt at the router of a signal indicating a pre-designated condition in the IP network, is reconfigured so as to switch traffic designated for a primary interface at the router to the spare interface at the router, thereby causing the traffic to flow across spare capacity on the re-configurable transport network between the spare interface on the router and the spare interface on the second router in the IP network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.