Make-before-break systems and methods decoupling a control plane from a data plane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016105380-A1
Application number	US-201414554115-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 26, 2014
Priority date	Oct 13, 2014
Publication date	Apr 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A Make-Before-Break (MBB) method, in a node operating in a network with a control plane, decoupling the control plane from a data plane, includes, for a connection operating on a path in the network, determining a reserved connection on a new path, through the control plane, wherein the reserved connection has zero bandwidth; signaling the reserved connection on the new path; creating the reserved connection in the control plane while suspending implementation in the data plane due to the zero bandwidth; and releasing the connection on the path and modifying the reserved connection on the new path to establish the connection on the new path.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A Make-Before-Break (MBB) method, in a node operating in a network with a control plane, decoupling the control plane from a data plane, the MBB method comprising:
for a connection operating on a path in the network, determining a reserved connection on a new path, through the control plane, wherein the reserved connection has zero bandwidth; signaling the reserved connection on the new path; and creating the reserved connection in the control plane while suspending implementation in the data plane due to the zero bandwidth.

2 . The MBB method of claim 1 , further comprising:
releasing the connection on the path and modifying the reserved connection on the new path to establish the connection on the new path.

3 . The MBB method of claim 1 , further comprising:
responsive to a failure affecting the connection, releasing the connection on the path and modifying the reserved connection on the new path to switch the connection to the new path which is a protect path.

4 . The MBB method of claim 1 , wherein setting up a working path on any portion of the new path preempts the reserved connection.

5 . The MBB method of claim 1 , wherein the reserved connection is one of a Zero Bandwidth Subnetwork Connection (SNC) and/or an unconstrained Label Switched Path (LSP).

6 . The MBB method of claim 1 , wherein the node utilizes a unicast switch fabric that is unable or unwilling to support broadcast and select.

7 . The MBB method of claim 1 , wherein the node is unable or unwilling to support broadcast and select with a wavelength.

8 . The MBB method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling the new path supports overbooking for the reserved connection and one or more additional reserved connections with a first connection of the reserved connection and the one or more additional reserved connection converting to active occupying the new path.

9 . The MBB method of claim 1 , wherein the signaling the reserved connection indicates a plurality of parameters including whether the reserved connection is blocking or non-blocking.

10 . The MBB method of claim 9 , wherein the reserved connection is blocking and preempts any existing reserved connections on the new path.

11 . The MBB method of claim 9 , wherein the reserved connection is non-blocking and is crank-backed in the creating responsive to a blocking reserved connection on a portion or all of the new path.

12 . A node, operating in a network with a control plane, configured to perform Make-Before-Break (MBB) where the control plane is decoupled from the data plane, the node comprising:
one or more ports configured for switching between one another; and a controller communicatively coupled to the one or more ports, wherein the controller is configured to
for a connection operating on a path in the network, determine a reserved connection on a new path, through the control plane, wherein the reserved connection has zero bandwidth,
signal the reserved connection on the new path, and
cause creation of the reserved connection in the control plane while suspending implementation in the data plane due to the zero bandwidth.

13 . The node of claim 12 , wherein the controller is further configured to perform one of:
responsive to a request, cause release of the connection on the path and modification of the reserved connection on the new path to establish the connection on the new path, or responsive to a failure affecting the connection, cause release of the connection on the path and modification of the reserved connection on the new path to switch the connection to the new path which is a protect path.

14 . The node of claim 12 , wherein setting up a working path on any portion of the new path preempts the reserved connection.

15 . The node of claim 12 , wherein the reserved connection is one of a Zero Bandwidth Subnetwork Connection (SNC) and/or an unconstrained Label Switched Path (LSP).

16 . The node of claim 12 , wherein the node is unable or unwilling to support broadcast and select.

17 . The node of claim 12 , wherein the new path supports overbooking for the reserved connection and one or more additional reserved connections with a first connection of the reserved connection and the one or more additional reserved connection converting to active occupying the new path.

18 . The node of claim 12 , wherein the signal of the reserved connection indicates a plurality of parameters including whether the reserved connection is blocking or non-blocking.

19 . A network configured to operate a control plane and configured to perform Make-Before-Break (MBB) where the control plane is decoupled from a data plane, the network comprising:
a plurality of nodes; and a plurality of links interconnecting the plurality of nodes; wherein a plurality of calls are configured in the network, through the control plane, wherein a plurality of reserved connections are configured in the network in the control plane, but not in the data plane since each of the plurality of reserved connections has zero bandwidth, and wherein to switch a call of the plurality of calls to an associated reserved connection, the call is released and the associated reserved connection is modified.

20 . The network of claim 19 , wherein one or more of the plurality of nodes utilize a switch fabric that is unable or unwilling to support broadcast and select.

Assignees

• Chhillar Mohit
• Prakash Anurag
• Swinkels Gerard Leo
• Ciena Corp

Inventors

• Chhillar Mohit
• Prakash Anurag
• Swinkels Gerard Leo

Classifications

• H04L45/22

  Alternate routing · CPC title

• H04L49/557 Primary

  Error correction, e.g. fault recovery or fault tolerance · CPC title

• H04L49/253

  using establishment or release of connections between ports · CPC title

• H04L47/72

  using reservation actions during connection setup · CPC title

• H04L45/64

  using an overlay routing layer · CPC title