US 7,068,659 B1 · Method and apparatus for virtual path aggregation (VPA) connection admission control (CAC)

Abstract

A method and apparatus for supporting virtual path aggregations (VPAs) in a communications network is presented. To establish a VPA in the network, a request for the VPA is received, where the request indicates a desired data path between a source switch and a destination switch. Based on the request, it is determined whether or not there are resources available to create the VPA. If the resources are present, the VPA is created. Once created, connections may be established using the VPA by first determining whether or not the needs of the connection are satisfied by the capabilities of the VPA. If the VPA is capable of supporting the connection, the connection is established using the VPA. If the VPA is not capable of supporting the connection, the connection may either be established using other resources or rejected.

Claims34

Dependent claims

A method for establishing a virtual path aggregation in a network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a virtual path aggregation, wherein the request indicates a desired data path between a source switch and a destination switch, wherein the request includes a traffic descriptor and a virtual path identifier for the virtual path aggregation;
determining if there is a trunk group within the source switch having a virtual path identifier that matches the virtual path identifier of the virtual path aggregation;
when the trunk group having a virtual path identifier that matches the virtual path identifier of the virtual path aggregation is present:
comparing bandwidth characteristics included in the traffic descriptor of the virtual path aggregation with bandwidth limitations of the trunk group;
when the bandwidth characteristics of the virtual path aggregation compare unfavorably with the bandwidth limitations of the trunk group, rejecting the virtual path aggregation request;
and
when the bandwidth characteristics of the virtual path aggregation compare favorably with the bandwidth limitations of the trunk group, creating the virtual path aggregation such that the virtual path aggregation corresponds to the trunk group.

4 more elements

An apparatus for connection admission control comprising:

a processor;
a memory operably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores a connection admission control algorithm, wherein when executed by the processor, the connection admission control algorithm causes the processor to:
determine, in response to a request for a virtual path aggregation, if there is a trunk group, within a source switch, having a virtual path identifier that matches the virtual path identifier of the virtual path aggregation, wherein the request indicates a desired data path between the source switch and a destination switch, wherein the request includes a traffic descriptor and a virtual path identifier for the virtual path aggregation;
reject the virtual path aggregation request when:
there is a trunk group within the switch with the same virtual path identifier as the virtual path aggregation;
and
bandwidth characteristics of the virtual path aggregation that are included in the traffic descriptor compare unfavorably with bandwidth limitations of the trunk group;
and
create the virtual path aggregation such that the virtual path aggregation corresponds to the trunk group when:
there is a trunk group within the switch with the same virtual path identifier as the virtual path aggregation;
and
the bandwidth characteristics of the virtual path aggregation compare favorably with bandwidth limitations of the trunk group.

9 more elements

A method for establishing a connection over a virtual path aggregation, comprising:

receiving a request for a connection, wherein the request includes a service category and a bandwidth requirement for the connection;
rejecting the request when the service category of the connection is not supported by a trunk group that includes the virtual path aggregation;
determining if the connection is a virtual channel connection type;
when the connection is a virtual channel connection type:
determining if the service category for the connection is supported by the virtual path aggregation;
when the service category for the connection is supported by the virtual path aggregation:
determining if the bandwidth requirement for the connection is within available bandwidth of the virtual path aggregation and a partition corresponding to the trunk group;
when the bandwidth requirement for the connection is within the available bandwidth of the virtual path aggregation and the partition, establishing the connection within the virtual path aggregation;
and
when the bandwidth requirement for the connection is not within the available bandwidth of the virtual path aggregation and the partition, rejecting the connection request.

7 more elements

An apparatus for connection admission control that controls connections using a virtual path aggregation within a trunk group, comprising:

a processor;
a memory operably coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores a connection admission control algorithm, wherein when executed by the processor, the connection admission control algorithm causes the processor, in response to a request for a connection that includes a service category and a bandwidth requirement of the connection, to:
reject the request when the service category of the connection is not supported by the trunk group;
determine if the connection is a virtual channel connection type;
when the connection is a virtual channel connection type:
determine if the virtual path aggregation supports the service category for the connection;
when the virtual path aggregation supports the service category:
determine if the bandwidth requirement for the connection is within available bandwidth of the virtual path aggregation and a partition of the trunk group;
when the bandwidth requirement for the connection is within the available bandwidth of the virtual path aggregation and the partition, establish the connection within the virtual path aggregation;
and
when the bandwidth requirement for the connection is not within the available bandwidth of the virtual path aggregation and the partition, reject the connection.

8 more elements