US6144633A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-healing network, method for transmission line switching thereof, and transmission equipment thereof
Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
•
Filing: 1997-04-22
•
Granted: 2000-11-07
•
Expires: 2017-04-22
Abstract
Abstract The present invention provides a network in which the installation of working lines may be enabled based on the required traffic and the high speed switching of the transmission lines may be realized, as well as a transmission equipment used for that network and a method of control thereof. The transmission equipment comprises an APS byte transmitter/receiver for exchanging information on failures with adjacent transmission equipment through a protection line, a monitor for monitoring anomalies on a plurality of the working lines, a Network Table for storing data indicating network structure, a processing unit for determining working lines to be switched based on the data stored in the Network Table and for processing APS bytes. APS bytes are allocated with the working line number, its priority, and the source node number of switching signal. In addition a Network Table is provided to each node for storing connecting state of the network and information on failures, thereby the destination node may be identified. When a failure occurs, the best optimal line switching will be performed by exchanging information on failures by means of the APS bytes.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroki Ikeda
- 👤 Toshiki Sugawara
- 👤 Yukio Nakano
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 14:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L1/00; H04L1/22; H04J; H04J3/00; H04J3/02; H04J3/08; H04J3/085; H04J2203/00; H04J2203/0001; H04J2203/0057; H04J2203/006
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A network, comprising: a plurality of transmission equipments; a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other; a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other to conduct digital transmission using an overhead of transmission frames for digital transmission; each of said transmission equipments including a memory corresponding to a Network Table for each of said transmission equipments for storing information corresponding to connecting status of the network and information on failures, wherein said information is generated locally in each of said transmission equipments as derived from information contained in said overhead of transmission frames; and means for detecting a working failure such that when a failure occurs in at least one of the working lines, switching control information on the failure is exchanged between the transmission equipments in said network according to the information contained in the overhead within the transmission frames so as at least one of said transmission equipments is enabled to switch from one transmission line to another one based on the exchanged switching control information and on the-information stored in the Network Table.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A network, comprising: a plurality of transmission equipments; a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other; a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other to conduct digital transmission using an overhead of transmission frames for digital transmission; each of said transmission equipments including a memory corresponding to a Network Table for each of said transmission equipments for storing information corresponding to connecting status of the network and information on failures, wherein said information is generated locally in each of said transmission equipments as derived from information contained in said overhead of transmission frames; and means for detecting a working failure such that when a failure occurs in at least one of the working lines, switching control information on the failure is exchanged between the transmission equipments in said network according to the information contained in the overhead within the transmission frames so as at least one of said transmission equipments is enabled to switch from one transmission line to another one based on the exchanged switching control information and on the-information stored in the Network Table.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A network according to claim 1, wherein said network comprises at least K transmission equipments where K is an integer not less than 3; (K-1) protection lines connecting said transmission equipments in a straight chain form; and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
A network according to claim 1, wherein the network is an SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) type network which includes at least a plurality of transmission equipments, plurality of protection lines connecting the transmission equipments to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting the transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
A network according to claim 3, wherein said SDH network includes at least K transmission equipments where K is an integer not less than 3, (K-1) protection lines connecting said transmission equipments in a straight chain form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A network according to claim 1, wherein the network is a SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) type network which includes at least a plurality of transmission equipment, a plurality of protection lines connecting the transmission equipments to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting the transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
A network according to claim 5, wherein said SONET includes at least K transmission equipments where K is an integer not less than 3, (K-1) protection lines connecting said transmission equipments in a straight chain form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
184 words
A network comprising at least a plurality of transmission equipment, a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other, to conduct digital transmission by using an overhead of transmission frames for digital transmission, wherein said transmission equipment each includes at least a memory for a Network Table for each for storing information corresponding to at least connecting status of the network and information on failures, wherein said information is generated locally in each of said transmission equipments as derived from information contained in said overhead of transmission frames, and when a failure occurs in at least one of the working lines, switching control information on the failure is exchanged between the transmission equipments in said network according to the information contained in automatic switching bytes in the overhead within the transmission frames so as at least one of said transmission equipments is enabled to switch from one transmission line to another one based on the exchanged switching control information and on the information stored in the Network Table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
184 words
A network comprising at least a plurality of transmission equipment, a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other, to conduct digital transmission by using an overhead of transmission frames for digital transmission, wherein said transmission equipment each includes at least a memory for a Network Table for each for storing information corresponding to at least connecting status of the network and information on failures, wherein said information is generated locally in each of said transmission equipments as derived from information contained in said overhead of transmission frames, and when a failure occurs in at least one of the working lines, switching control information on the failure is exchanged between the transmission equipments in said network according to the information contained in automatic switching bytes in the overhead within the transmission frames so as at least one of said transmission equipments is enabled to switch from one transmission line to another one based on the exchanged switching control information and on the information stored in the Network Table.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
A network according to claim 7, wherein the network comprises at least K transmission equipments where K is an integer not less than 3, (K-1) protection lines connecting said transmission equipments in a straight chain form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A network according to claim 7, wherein the network is a network which comprises at least K transmission equipments where K is an integer not less than 3, K protection lines connecting said transmission equipments in a ring form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
A network according to claim 1, wherein the network comprises at least K transmission equipments where K is an integer not less than 3, K protection lines connecting said transmission equipments in a ring form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
54 words
A network according to claim 10, wherein the network is a SDH type network which comprises at least K transmission equipments where K is an integer not less than 3, K protection lines connecting said transmission equipments in a ring form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
A network according to claim 10, wherein the network is a SONET type network which comprises at least K transmission equipments where K is an integer not less than 3, K protection lines connecting said transmission equipments in a ring form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
74 words
A network according to claim 1 or 7, wherein said Network Table includes data corresponding to at least connection information among the transmission equipments of the working lines, connection information among the transmission equipments of the protection lines, a transmission equipment number, path information of the protection line used for protecting signals of the working lines, a number assigned to a working line, and current failure information of the transmission line in the network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A network according to claim 1 or 7, wherein said overhead includes data corresponding to at least the number of the working line with the highest priority, the number of the transmission equipment to notify a bridge request of transmission line, and the response status to the transmission equipment switching of that transmission equipments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
A network according to claim 1 or 7, wherein said Network Table includes data corresponding to at least connection information among the transmission equipments of the working lines, connection information among the transmission equipments of the protection lines, a transmission equipment number, path information of the protection line used for protecting signals of the working lines, a number assigned to a working line, and current failure information of the transmission line in the network, and wherein said overhead includes data corresponding to at least the number of the working line with the highest priority, the number of the equipment to notify a bridge request of transmission line, and the response status to the transmission equipment switching of that transmission equipment.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
276 words
A method for switching transmission lines in a network, comprising at least a plurality of transmission equipment, a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other, in which said transmission equipment each comprises at least a memory for storing information contained in the overhead of the transmission frames for digital transmission, when a failure occurs in at least one of said transmission lines, the following said method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a bridge request of transmission lines from a first transmission equipment which detects the failure to a predetermined second transmission equipment.; (2) determining, by the second transmission equipment receiving the bridge request of transmission lines, the availability of a protection line corresponding to the bridge request based on the information stored in the Network Table of said transmission equipment; (3) setting a switching of transmission lines, by the second transmission equipment, such that an available protection line is allowed to be used for the switching and providing of information on the setting of switching of transmission lines to the first transmission equipment; (4) setting, by the first transmission equipment which receives an indication of the setting of switching transmission line, the switching to the protection line which has been set by the second transmission equipment, and notifying the setting of switching of transmission lines to the second transmission equipment; and (5) setting, by the second transmission equipment which receives an indication of the setting of switching of transmission line, the switching of transmission line to the protection line which has been set by the first transmission equipment.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
276 words
A method for switching transmission lines in a network, comprising at least a plurality of transmission equipment, a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission equipments to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other, in which said transmission equipment each comprises at least a memory for storing information contained in the overhead of the transmission frames for digital transmission, when a failure occurs in at least one of said transmission lines, the following said method comprising the steps of: (1) providing a bridge request of transmission lines from a first transmission equipment which detects the failure to a predetermined second transmission equipment.; (2) determining, by the second transmission equipment receiving the bridge request of transmission lines, the availability of a protection line corresponding to the bridge request based on the information stored in the Network Table of said transmission equipment; (3) setting a switching of transmission lines, by the second transmission equipment, such that an available protection line is allowed to be used for the switching and providing of information on the setting of switching of transmission lines to the first transmission equipment; (4) setting, by the first transmission equipment which receives an indication of the setting of switching transmission line, the switching to the protection line which has been set by the second transmission equipment, and notifying the setting of switching of transmission lines to the second transmission equipment; and (5) setting, by the second transmission equipment which receives an indication of the setting of switching of transmission line, the switching of transmission line to the protection line which has been set by the first transmission equipment.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
54 words
A procedure for switching transmission lines in the network according to claim 16, wherein the switching of transmission lines to the protection line does not set, when a failure occurs in at least one of the working lines and the determination of the availability of protection lines is indicated that it may be available.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for switching transmission lines in a network comprising a plurality of transmission equipment a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other, in which each of said transmission equipments comprises a memory for storing information contained in the overhead of the transmission frames for digital transmission, said method comprising, when a failure occurs in at least one of said transmission lines, the following steps of: (1) providing information contained in the overhead from a first transmission equipment which detects the failure to a predetermined second transmission equipment; (2) determining, by the second transmission equipment receiving the information in the overhead, the availability of a protection line corresponding to the information in the overhead based on the information stored in the Network Table of said second transmission equipment; (3) setting a switching of transmission lines by the second transmission equipment, such that the specified protection line is allowed to be used for the switching in case that the determination of the availability of protection lines is indicated that it may be available, and providing information on the setting of switching of transmission lines to the first transmission equipment; (4) updating the information stored in the Network Table of said second transmission equipment to new information based on the determination of the availability of said protection line.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
232 words
A method for switching transmission lines in a network comprising a plurality of transmission equipment a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other, in which each of said transmission equipments comprises a memory for storing information contained in the overhead of the transmission frames for digital transmission, said method comprising, when a failure occurs in at least one of said transmission lines, the following steps of: (1) providing information contained in the overhead from a first transmission equipment which detects the failure to a predetermined second transmission equipment; (2) determining, by the second transmission equipment receiving the information in the overhead, the availability of a protection line corresponding to the information in the overhead based on the information stored in the Network Table of said second transmission equipment; (3) setting a switching of transmission lines by the second transmission equipment, such that the specified protection line is allowed to be used for the switching in case that the determination of the availability of protection lines is indicated that it may be available, and providing information on the setting of switching of transmission lines to the first transmission equipment; (4) updating the information stored in the Network Table of said second transmission equipment to new information based on the determination of the availability of said protection line.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claim 18, wherein the self-healing network comprises at least K transmission equipment where K is an integer not less than 3, (K-1) protection lines connecting said transmission equipment in a straight chain form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claim 18 wherein the self-healing network is an SDH (Synchronous Digital Hierarchy) type network which includes at least a plurality of transmission equipment, a plurality of protection lines connecting the transmission equipment to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting the transmission equipment to each other.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claim 20, wherein said SDH network includes at least K transmission equipment where K is an integer not less than 3, (K-1) protection lines connecting said transmission equipment in a straight chain form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claim 18, wherein the self-healing network is an SONET (Synchronous Optical Network) type network which includes at least a plurality of transmission equipment, a plurality of protection lines connecting the transmission equipment to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting the transmission equipment to teach other.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claim 22, wherein said SONET network includes K transmission where K is an integer not less than 3, (K-1) protection lines connecting said transmission equipment in a straight chain form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
108 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claim 18, wherein the self-healing network comprises at least a plurality of transmission equipment, a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission to each other, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other, to conduct digital transmission by using an overhead of transmission frames for digital transmission and further comprising frame phase alignment and stuff control by swapping pointers in the digital transmission, wherein said transmission equipment each includes at least a memory for a Network Table for each for storing at least connecting status of the network and information on failures.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
225 words
A method for switching transmission lines in a network, comprising at least K transmission equipment where K is an integer not less than 3, K protection lines connecting said transmission equipment in a ring form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other, and which has at least one of said transmission equipment connected with 3 or more transmission lines, said method comprising, when a failure occurs in at least one of said transmission lines, the following steps of: (1) providing information contained in an overhead from a first transmission equipment which detects the failure to a predetermined second transmission equipment; (2) determining, by the second transmission equipment which receives the information in the overhead, the availability of a protection line corresponding to the received information in the overhead based on the Network Table of said second transmission equipment; (3) setting a switching of transmission lines by the second transmission equipment, such that the specified protection line is allowed to be used for the switching based on the determination of the availability of protection lines, and providing information on the setting of switching of the transmission lines to the first transmission equipment; (4) updating the information stored in the Network Table of said second transmission equipment to new information based on the determination of the availability of said protection line.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
225 words
A method for switching transmission lines in a network, comprising at least K transmission equipment where K is an integer not less than 3, K protection lines connecting said transmission equipment in a ring form, and a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipment to each other, and which has at least one of said transmission equipment connected with 3 or more transmission lines, said method comprising, when a failure occurs in at least one of said transmission lines, the following steps of: (1) providing information contained in an overhead from a first transmission equipment which detects the failure to a predetermined second transmission equipment; (2) determining, by the second transmission equipment which receives the information in the overhead, the availability of a protection line corresponding to the received information in the overhead based on the Network Table of said second transmission equipment; (3) setting a switching of transmission lines by the second transmission equipment, such that the specified protection line is allowed to be used for the switching based on the determination of the availability of protection lines, and providing information on the setting of switching of the transmission lines to the first transmission equipment; (4) updating the information stored in the Network Table of said second transmission equipment to new information based on the determination of the availability of said protection line.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method for switching transmission lines in a network according to claim 25, wherein the self-healing network is a SDH type network.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method for switching transmission lines in a network according to claim 25, wherein the self-healing network is a SONET type network which includes at least K transmission equipment where K is an integer not less than 3, K protection lines connecting said transmission equipment in a ring form, and a plurality of working lines connecting the transmission equipment to each other, and which has at least one of said transmission equipment connected with 3 or more transmission lines.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claim 25, wherein said transmission equipments conduct digital transmission by using an overhead of transmission frames for digital transmission and further employing frame phase alignment and stuff control by swapping pointers in the digital transmission, wherein said transmission equipments each include at least a memory for a Network Table for storing connecting status of the network and information on failures.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
63 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claims 16, 18, or 25, wherein the information contained in the overhead contains at least the number of the working line with the highest priority, the number of the transmission equipment to notify a bridge request of transmission line, and the response status to the transmission equipment switching of that transmission equipment.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claims 16, 18, or 25, wherein the information contained in the Network Table includes at least connection information among the transmission equipment of the working lines, connection information among the transmission equipment of the protection lines, transmission equipment number, number assigned to a working line, and current failure information of the transmission line in the network.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
35 words
A method for switching transmission lines in the network according to claims 16, 18, or 25, wherein the information contained in said Network Table is dynamically updated by a signal generated by the processing unit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
151 words
A transmission equipment comprising: a connecting unit for a plurality of working lines, a connecting unit for a plurality of protection lines, a monitoring unit for monitoring anomalies in said working lines, a transmitter/receiver for exchanging information with adjacent transmission equipment, said information stored in an area with transmission frame in overhead portion of said area corresponding to automatic switching instructions, said information relating to failure information with adjacent transmission equipment through a protection line, a Network Table for storing the connection status of the network and failure information, a processing unit for setting transmission line switching and for notifying the setting of the transmission lines switching to said adjacent transmission equipment, based on the information stored in said Network Table, the information of the results of monitoring transmission lines by said monitor, and the information stored in said area corresponding to automatic switching in the overhead portion of transmission frame.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
151 words
A transmission equipment comprising: a connecting unit for a plurality of working lines, a connecting unit for a plurality of protection lines, a monitoring unit for monitoring anomalies in said working lines, a transmitter/receiver for exchanging information with adjacent transmission equipment, said information stored in an area with transmission frame in overhead portion of said area corresponding to automatic switching instructions, said information relating to failure information with adjacent transmission equipment through a protection line, a Network Table for storing the connection status of the network and failure information, a processing unit for setting transmission line switching and for notifying the setting of the transmission lines switching to said adjacent transmission equipment, based on the information stored in said Network Table, the information of the results of monitoring transmission lines by said monitor, and the information stored in said area corresponding to automatic switching in the overhead portion of transmission frame.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
58 words
A transmission equipment according to claim 32, wherein the information contained in said Network Table includes at least connection information among the transmission equipment of the working lines, connection information among the transmission equipment of the protection lines, transmission equipment number, number assigned to a working line, and current failure information of the transmission line in the network.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
54 words
A transmission equipment according to claim 32, wherein the information contained in the overhead contains at least the number of the working line with the highest priority, the number of the transmission equipment to notify a bridge request of transmission line, and the response status to the transmission equipment switching of that transmission equipment.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
106 words
A transmission equipment according to claim 32, wherein the information contained in said Network Table includes at least connection information among the transmission equipment of the working lines, connection information among the transmission equipment of the protection lines, transmission equipment number, number assigned to a working line, and current failure information of the transmission line in the network, and wherein the information contained in the overhead contains at least the number of the working line with the highest priority, the number of the transmission equipment to notify a bridge request of transmission line, and the response status to the transmission equipment switching of that transmission equipment.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
158 words
A network comprising: a plurality of transmission equipments; a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission equipments; a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments; each of said transmission equipments including a memory corresponding to a network table for each of said transmission equipments for storing information corresponding to at least connecting status of the network and information on failures, wherein said information is generated locally in each of said transmission equipments as derived from information contained in automatic switching bytes exchanged between said transmission equipments; and means for detecting a working failure such that when a failure occurs in at least one of the working lines, switching control information on the failure is exchanged between the transmission equipments in said network according to the information contained in the automatic switching bytes so as to switch from one transmission line to another based on the switching control information and on the information stored in the network table.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
158 words
A network comprising: a plurality of transmission equipments; a plurality of protection lines connecting said transmission equipments; a plurality of working lines connecting said transmission equipments; each of said transmission equipments including a memory corresponding to a network table for each of said transmission equipments for storing information corresponding to at least connecting status of the network and information on failures, wherein said information is generated locally in each of said transmission equipments as derived from information contained in automatic switching bytes exchanged between said transmission equipments; and means for detecting a working failure such that when a failure occurs in at least one of the working lines, switching control information on the failure is exchanged between the transmission equipments in said network according to the information contained in the automatic switching bytes so as to switch from one transmission line to another based on the switching control information and on the information stored in the network table.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
47 words
The network according to claim 36, wherein said protection lines connect said transmission equipments in a chain form, and at least one of said transmission equipments is connected with three or more other transmission equipments of said transmission equipments via a corresponding one of said working lines.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
47 words
The network according to claim 36, wherein said protection lines connect said transmission equipments in a ring form, and at lease one of said transmission equipments is connected with three or more other transmission equipments of said transmission equipments via a corresponding one of said working lines.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4967405A
Cited
US5113395A
Cited
US5307353A
Cited
US5442623A
Cited
US5550805A
Cited
US5590119A
Cited
US5815490A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-07 | 2004-05-08 | 2004-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-07 | 2008-05-08 | 2008-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-07 | 2012-05-08 | 2012-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |