Sharing restoration path bandwidth in mesh networks

A computer-implemented method for protecting a mesh data network, comprising:

• the computer determining a first link that is traversed by two or more protection paths;
• the computer determining bandwidth of a primary path that corresponds to each of the two or more protection paths;
• and
• the computer reserving on the first link an amount of protection bandwidth, wherein the protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is shared between the protection paths of the two or more primary paths, such that the amount of protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is less than the sum of the bandwidths of the two or more primary paths, wherein:
• a source node of a primary path generates and inserts failure detection (FD) packets into the primary path;
• a destination node of the primary path monitors the arrival of FD packets;
• the destination node registers a failure on the primary path when no FD packets arrive during a specified interval of time;
• and
• one or more of the FD packets are marked in such a way that the marked packets are treated with relatively high priority in one or more of scheduling and buffer management at one or more of the nodes along the primary path.

An apparatus for protecting a mesh data network, comprising:

• means for determining a first link that is traversed by two or more protection paths;
• means for determining bandwidth of a primary path that corresponds to each of the two or more protection paths;
• and
• means for reserving on the first link an amount of protection bandwidth, wherein the protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is shared between the protection paths of the two or more primary paths, such that the amount of protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is less than the sum of the bandwidths of the two or more primary paths wherein:
• a source node of a primary path generates and inserts failure detection (FD) packets into the primary path;
• a destination node of the primary path monitors the arrival of FD packets;
• the destination node registers a failure on the primary path when no FD packets arrive during a specified interval of time;
• and
• one or more of the FD packets are marked in such a way that the marked packets are treated with relatively high priority in one or more of scheduling and buffer management at one or more of the nodes along the primary path.

A controller for a mesh data network comprising two or more nodes and two or more links interconnecting the nodes, wherein:

• the controller is adapted to control reservation of protection bandwidth for the links;
• a first link in the network is part of two or more protection paths, each protection path corresponding to a different primary path;
• the controller is adapted to determine how much protection bandwidth to reserve on the first link for the two or more protection paths, wherein the protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is shared between the protection paths of the two or more primary paths, such that the amount of protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is less than the sum of the bandwidths of the two or more primary paths;
• a source node of a primary path is adapted to generate and insert failure detection (FD) packets into the primary path;
• a destination node of the primary path is adapted to monitor the arrival of FD packets;
• the destination node is adapted to register a failure on the primary path when no FD packets arrive during a specified interval of time;
• and
• one or more of the FD packets are marked in such a way that the marked packets are treated with relatively high priority in one or more of scheduling and buffer management at one or more of the nodes along the primary path.

A mesh data network comprising:

• two or more nodes;
• two or more links interconnecting the nodes;
• and
• a network manager adapted to control reservation of protection bandwidth for the links, wherein:
• a first link in the network is part of two or more protection paths, each protection path corresponding to a different primary path;
• the network manager is adapted to determine how much protection bandwidth to reserve on the first link for the two or more protection paths, wherein the protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is shared between the protection paths of the two or more primary paths, such that the amount of protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is less than the sum of the bandwidths of the two or more primary paths;
• a source node of a primary path is adapted to generate and insert failure detection (FD) packets into the primary path;
• a destination node of the primary path is adapted to monitor the arrival of FD packets;
• the destination node is adapted to register a failure on the primary path when no FD packets arrive during a specified interval of time;
• and
• the FD packets are inserted into the primary path with a period T, and the specified interval is of length n×T, where n and T are provisionable parameters.

A mesh data network comprising:

• two or more nodes;
• two or more links interconnecting the nodes;
• and
• a network manager adapted to control reservation of protection bandwidth for the links, wherein:
• a first link in the network is part of two or more protection paths, each protection path corresponding to a different primary path;
• the network manager is adapted to determine how much protection bandwidth to reserve on the first link for the two or more protection paths, wherein the protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is shared between the protection paths of the two or more primary paths, such that the amount of protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is less than the sum of the bandwidths of the two or more primary paths;
• a source node of a primary path is adapted to generate and insert failure detection (FD) packets into the primary path;
• a destination node of the primary path is adapted to monitor the arrival of FD packets;
• the destination node is adapted to register a failure on the primary path when no FD packets arrive during a specified interval of time;
• an FD packet is inserted into the primary path when the primary path has been idle for a duration T;
• the destination node is adapted to determine when the primary path is idle;
• and
• the specified interval of time is of length n×T, where n and T are provisionable parameters.

A mesh data network comprising:

• two or more nodes;
• two or more links interconnecting the nodes;
• a network manager adapted to control reservation of protection bandwidth for the links, wherein:
• a first link in the network is part of two or more protection paths, each protection path corresponding to a different primary path;
• and
• the network manager is adapted to determines how much protection bandwidth to reserve on the first link for the two or more protection paths, wherein the protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is shared between the protection paths of the two or more primary paths, such that the amount of protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is less than the sum of the bandwidths of the two or more primary paths;
• a database that includes a storage location SL-1 corresponding to a link L-1;
• a function executed by the network manager that has knowledge of a potential failure element E-1 of the network, where the element E-1 is one of a node or link within the network, wherein:
• the function is adapted to calculates a first sum of the bandwidths of the primary paths that traverse the element E-1 whose protection paths traverse the link L-1;
• and
• the function is adapted to stores the first sum in the storage location SL-1;
• and
• the function executed by the network manager further has knowledge of a second potential failure element E-2 of the network, where the element E-2 is one of a node or link within the network that is different from the element E-1, wherein:
• the function is adapted to calculate a second sum of the bandwidths of the primary paths that traverse the element E-2 whose protection paths traverse the link L-1;
• and
• the function is adapted to compare the second sum with the first sum and calculates the greater of the first sum and the second sum.

A computer-implemented method for protecting a mesh data network, comprising:

• the computer determining a first link that is traversed by two or more protection paths;
• the computer determining bandwidth of a primary path that corresponds to each of the two or more protection paths;
• the computer reserving on the first link an amount of protection bandwidth, wherein the protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is shared between the protection paths of the two or more primary paths, such that the amount of protection bandwidth reserved on the first link is less than the sum of the bandwidths of the two or more primary paths;
• the computer utilizing a database that includes a storage location SL-1 corresponding to a link L-1, wherein the computer has knowledge of a potential failure element E-1 of the network, where the element E-1 is one of a node or link within the network;
• the computer calculating a first sum of the bandwidths of the primary paths that traverse the element E-1 whose protection paths traverse the link L-1;
• and
• the computer storing the first sum in the storage location SL-1, wherein the computer further has knowledge of a second potential failure element E-2 of the network, where the element E-2 is one of a node or link within the network that is different from the element E-1, wherein:
• the computer calculates a second sum of the bandwidths of the primary paths that traverse the element E-2 whose protection paths traverse the link L-1;
• and
• the computer compares the second sum with the first sum and calculates the greater of the first sum and the second sum.