Resilient data communications with physical layer link aggregation, extended failure detection and load balancing
AssigneeHarris Stratex Networks, Inc.
InventorsSergio Licardie, Chaoming Zeng
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Rapid channel failure detection and recovery in wireless communication networks is needed in order to meet, among other things, carrier class Ethernet channel standards. Thus, resilient wireless packet communications is provided using a physical layer link aggregation protocol with a hardware-assisted rapid channel failure detection algorithm and load balancing, preferably in combination. This functionality may be implemented in a Gigabit Ethernet data access card with an engine configured accordingly. In networks with various topologies, these features may be provided in combination with their existing protocols.
Claims47
A method for providing resilient packet communications in a network, comprising:
- instantiating a rapid channel failure detection algorithm, the rapid channel failure detection algorithm comprising a per-link failure detection in a link aggregation group, and the per-link failure detection using layer-1 of the network to detect a link failure in the link aggregation group;
- instantiating a physical layer link aggregation protocol associated with links of the network for packet communications;
- and
- combining the physical layer link aggregation protocol with the rapid channel failure detection algorithm, wherein:
- the combination is responsive to failures in one or more links in the network and provides for automatic redistribution of traffic among a reduced number of available links in order to render communications of packets through the network resilient to such failures, and
- the combination is further responsive to recovery of the failures in the one or more links and provides for automatic redistribution of traffic among an increased number of available links including one or more recovered links.
A system for resilient wireless packet communications in a network, comprising:
- means for instantiating a rapid channel failure detection algorithm, the rapid channel failure detection algorithm comprising a per-link failure detection in a link aggregation group, and the per-link failure detection using layer-1 of the network to detect a link failure in the link aggregation group;
- means for instantiating a physical layer link aggregation protocol associated with links of the network for packet communications;
- and
- means for combining the physical layer link aggregation protocol with the rapid channel failure detection algorithm, wherein:
- the combination is responsive to failures in one or more links in the network and provides for automatic redistribution of traffic among a reduced number of available links in order to render communications of packets through the network resilient to such failures, and
- the combination is further responsive to recovery of the failures in the one or more links and provides for automatic redistribution of traffic among an increased number of available links including one or more recovered links.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.