Method and apparatus for transporting DS-X signals through a packet network
DC
First Claim
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1. A method for transporting DS-X traffic within a distributed communications system leveraging a packet network, the communications system including an end node coupled to the packet network, the method comprising:
- determining a configured DS-X loading of the end node;
establishing at least one virtual connection within the packet network based on the DS-X loading;
mapping the DS-X traffic entering the end node into packet data; and
transferring the packet data through the at least one virtual connection.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for efficiently transporting DS-X traffic in packet form over an ATM or other packet network. Specifically, virtual connection or slot provisioning and/or cell concentration techniques are used to compact the amount of DS-X traffic broadcast between communications system devices such as the access mux and the communications switch and spare bandwidth. In provisioning, a configured DS-X loading of an end node supporting DS-X traffic is ascertained. In turn, a minimum number of virtual connections for bearing packetized DS-X traffic are established, either at communications system configuration or as needed. In concentration processing, a dynamic association between the virtual connections and the DS-X traffic is established, typically on a per frame basis. Only those digital channels entering the node within a given time frame which actually bear DS-X traffic will be assigned a slot within packet. Concentration may be augmented by provisioning to further reduce bandwidth requirements. In other disclosed aspects, permanent virtual channels or PNNI soft permanent virtual connections may be used for the virtual connections where ATM is chosen as the transport protocol.
23 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for transporting DS-X traffic within a distributed communications system leveraging a packet network, the communications system including an end node coupled to the packet network, the method comprising:
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determining a configured DS-X loading of the end node;
establishing at least one virtual connection within the packet network based on the DS-X loading;
mapping the DS-X traffic entering the end node into packet data; and
transferring the packet data through the at least one virtual connection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
the DS-X loading includes a quantity of access devices serviced by the end node; and
wherein said establishing comprises establishing a virtual connection within the packet network for each access device serviced by the end node.
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3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:
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determining whether the quantity of access devices serviced by the end node has changed;
relinquishing an established virtual connection corresponding to each access device no longer being serviced by the end node if the quantity of access devices serviced by the end node is determined to have been reduced; and
establishing a new virtual connection within the packet network for each newly serviced access device if the quantity of access devices serviced by the end node is determined to have been increased.
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4. The method of claim 1, wherein:
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the DS-X loading includes a quantity of DSO channels being simultaneously serviced by the end node; and
wherein said establishing comprises establishing at least one virtual connection within the packet network based on the quantity of simultaneously serviced DSO channels.
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5. In a distributed communications system leveraging a packet network bearing packets having a uniformly sized payload, an apparatus for multiplexing DS-X traffic into the packets, comprising:
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a processor adapted to determine active DS-X traffic entering a communications system node at a given unit time;
a processor adapted to develop a DS-X-packet correspondence based on the active DS-X traffic, the DS-X-packet correspondence defining a minimum number of the packets to bear the active DS-X traffic; and
a processor adapted to map the active DS-X traffic into the payload of at least one of the packets according to the DS-X-packet correspondence.
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6. Logic embodied on at least one computer readable medium and operable when executed to:
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determine active DS-X traffic entering a communications system node;
develop a DS-X-packet correspondence based on the active DS-X traffic, the DS-X-packet correspondence defining a minimum number of packets to bear the active DS-X traffic; and
map the active DS-X traffic into a payload of at least one of the packets according to the DS-X-packet correspondence.
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7. Logic embodied on at least one computer readable medium and operable when executed to:
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determine a DS-X loading of a communications system node;
establish at least one virtual connection within a packet network based on the DS-X loading;
map DS-X traffic entering the node into packet data; and
transfer the packet data through the at least one virtual connection.
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8. An apparatus, comprising:
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a converter operable to convert DS-0 traffic into packet traffic and to convert packet traffic into DS-0 traffic;
a processor operable to control the converter; and
a memory operable to store logic executed by the processor, the logic operable when executed to determine a DS-X loading of the apparatus, establish at least one virtual connection within a packet network based on the DS-X loading, and identifying a mapping of the DS-X traffic entering the apparatus into packets of data, the conversion circuit operable to use the mapping to convert the DS-0 traffic into the packet traffic and to convert the packet traffic into the DS-0 traffic. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
a DS-X interface operable to transmit and receive the DS-0 traffic;
an ATM interface operable to transmit and receive the packet traffic; and
a packet engine operable to packetize the DS-0 traffic into ATM cells and to depacketize ATM cells into the DS-0 traffic.
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10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is operable to determine the DS-X loading by identifying a quantity of access devices serviced by the apparatus;
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the processor is operable to establish the at least one virtual connection by establishing virtual connection within the packet network for each access device serviced by the apparatus.
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11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is operable to determine the DS-X loading by identifying a quantity of DS-0 channels being serviced by the apparatus;
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the processor is operable to establish the at least one virtual connection by establishing at least one virtual connection within the packet network based on the quantity of simultaneously serviced DS-0 channels.
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12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is operable to map the DS-X traffic entering the apparatus into packets of data by:
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developing a DS-X-packet correspondence based on the DS-X loading, the DS-X-packet correspondence defining a minimum number of packets to bear the DS-X traffic; and
mapping the DS-X traffic into a payload of at least one of the packets according to the DS-X-packet correspondence.
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13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the processor is operable to establish the at least one virtual connection by establishing at least one soft permanent virtual circuit within the packet network using private network to network (PNNI) signaling.
Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeInternational License Exchange of America, LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
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Original AssigneeNortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
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InventorsBernstein, Greg M., Desai, Premal, Gullicksen, Jeffrey T.
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Primary Examiner(s)Olms, Douglas
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Assistant Examiner(s)PIZARRO, RICARDO M
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Application NumberUS10/117,740Publication NumberTime in Patent Office928 DaysField of Search370/389, 370/390, 370/391, 370/393, 370/394, 370/395.1, 370/399, 370/395.31, 370/354, 370/468, 370/466, 370/465, 370/470, 370/474, 370/463, 370/401US Class Current370/389CPC Class CodesH04L 12/64 Hybrid switching systemsH04L 2012/5621 Virtual private network [VP...H04L 2012/5663 Support of N-ISDNH04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband co...
