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US 8,526,443 B2Granted
Automated VLAN assignment to domain in ring network
AssigneeCalix, Inc.
InventorsBerkay Baykal, Shaun Noel Missett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In general, the disclosure describes network techniques that may automatically assign virtual local area networks (VLANs) to domains in a ring network. In one example, a method includes receiving, by a control node in a ring network, a plurality of data units transmitted by a plurality of transport nodes on the ring network, each data unit comprising profile information, and automatically assigning a VLAN to one of a plurality of domains established on the ring network based on the profile information.
Claims48
A method comprising:
- receiving, by a control node in a ring network, a plurality of data units transmitted by a plurality of transport nodes on the ring network, each data unit comprising traffic profile information of a virtual local area network (VLAN) that includes at least one of an expected bandwidth of the VLAN, a traffic class of the VLAN, a forwarding behavior of the VLAN, and a preferred ring domain of the VLAN;
- automatically assigning, by the control node, the VLAN to one of a plurality of domains established on the ring network based on the traffic profile information of each data unit,
- wherein each domain of the plurality of domains comprises a loop-free path of the ring network that the plurality of data units takes in traveling from a first transport node of the plurality of transport nodes to a second transport node of the plurality of transport nodes;
- allowing, by the control node, network traffic associated with the VLAN to travel across the one of the plurality of domains;
- and
- blocking, by the control node, network traffic not associated with the VLAN from traveling across the one of the plurality of domains,
- wherein the control node is a single node in the ring network configured to both allow network traffic associated with the VLAN to travel across the one of the plurality of domains and also block network traffic not associated with the VLAN from traveling across the one of the plurality of domains.
4 more elements
A network device comprising a processor configured to:
- receive a plurality of data units transmitted by a plurality of transport nodes on the ring network, each data unit comprising traffic profile information of a virtual local area network (VLAN) that includes at least one of an expected bandwidth of the VLAN, a traffic class of the VLAN, forwarding behavior of the VLAN, and a preferred ring domain of the VLAN;
- automatically assign the VLAN to one of a plurality of domains established on the ring network based on the traffic profile information of each data unit, wherein each domain of the plurality of domains comprises a loop-free path of the ring network that the plurality of data units takes in traveling from a first transport node of the plurality of transport nodes to a second transport node of the plurality of transport nodes;
- allow network traffic associated with the VLAN to travel across the one of the plurality of domains;
- and
- block network traffic not associated with the VLAN from traveling across the one of the plurality of domains, wherein the network device is a single network device on the ring network for both allowing traffic associated with the VLAN to travel across the one of the plurality of domains and also blocking network traffic not associated with the VLAN from traveling across the one of the plurality of domains.
2 more elements
A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions encoded on the non-transitory computer-readable medium that, upon execution, cause a processor within a network device to:
- receive a plurality of data units transmitted by a plurality of transport nodes on the ring network, each data unit comprising traffic profile information of a virtual local area network (VLAN) that includes at least one of an expected bandwidth of the VLAN, a traffic class of the VLAN, forwarding behavior of the VLAN, and a preferred ring domain of the VLAN;
- automatically assign the VLAN to one of a plurality of domains established on the ring network based on the traffic profile information of each data unit, wherein each domain of the plurality of domains comprises a loop-free path of the ring network that the plurality of data units takes in traveling from a first transport node of the plurality of transport nodes to a second transport node of the plurality of transport nodes;
- allow network traffic associated with the VLAN to travel across the one of the plurality of domains;
- and
- block network traffic not associated with the VLAN from traveling across the one of the plurality of domains, wherein the network device is a single network device on the ring network for both allowing traffic associated with the VLAN to travel across the one of the plurality of domains and also blocking network traffic not associated with the VLAN from traveling across the one of the plurality of domains.
2 more elements
A network device comprising:
- means for receiving, by a control node in a ring network, a plurality of data units transmitted by a plurality of transport nodes on the ring network, each data unit comprising traffic profile information of a virtual local area network (VLAN) that includes at least one of an expected bandwidth of the VLAN, a traffic class of the VLAN, forwarding behavior of the VLAN, and a preferred ring domain of the VLAN;
- means for automatically assigning the VLAN to one of a plurality of domains established on the ring network based on the traffic profile information of each data unit, wherein each domain of the plurality of domains comprises a loop-free path of the ring network that the plurality of data units takes in traveling from a first transport node of the plurality of transport nodes to a second transport node of the plurality of transport nodes;
- means for allowing network traffic associated with the VLAN to travel across the one of the plurality of domains;
- and
- means for blocking network traffic not associated with the VLAN from traveling across the one of the plurality of domains, wherein the network device is a single network device on the ring network for both allowing traffic associated with the VLAN to travel across the one of the plurality of domains and also blocking network traffic not associated with the VLAN from traveling across the one of the plurality of domains.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.