Method for implementing tandem concatenation monitoring automatically and apparatus thereof

A device for automatically implementing Tandem Concatenation Monitoring, TCM, comprising a controller, a TCM generator and a TCM terminator, wherein

• the controller is adapted to control information transfer with an exterior of the controller as a network element, to report TCM monitored information, TCM use information, and TCM operation information to a network management system, and to control the TCM generator and the TCM terminator;
• the TCM generator is adapted to receive information from the controller, to perform TCM processing, to map TCM use information into an overhead for transfer, to update the TCM use information according to the TCM operation information, and to convey updated TCM use information to the controller;
• and
• the TCM terminator is adapted to receive information from the controller and an external overhead interface, to process TCM overhead information, to update the TCM use information, and to convey a processing result to the controller.

A method for automatically implementing Tandem Concatenation Monitoring, TCM, comprising:

• requesting, by a sub-network, a network management system for a required number of TCM levels;
• assigning, by the network management system, available TCM levels to a pair of network nodes in the sub-network;
• performing, by the pair of network nodes in the sub-network, TCM processing, mapping TCM use information into a corresponding overhead, transferring the TCM use information together with TCM overhead information downstream, and reporting TCM information to the network management system, wherein the TCM information comprises TCM use information and TCM operation information;
• and
• by comparing the TCM use information and the TCM operation information, determining the TCM levels that pass through each network node and have been used, and which level of TCMi each network node is processing.