Patent ID: 9491041
Filing Date: 2016-11-08
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A protection switching method in a communication network, the communication network including plurality of Ethernet Ring Protection Switching (ERPS) communication devices and at least one non-ERPS communication device forming a linear chain connecting at least two terminal ports of the linear chain and thereby forming a ring, the method comprising: instantiating ERPS on each communication device that forms a linear chain and on each non-terminal port of the linear chain; identifying a node or link fault in the network, wherein the link or node fault is detected by Continuity Check Message (CCM), Loss of Light (LOL), Loss of Signal (LOS), Loss of periodic continuity check messages (IEEE 802.1ag) or any other mechanisms thereof; blocking one or more blocked ports of the communication device when a node or link fault in the network is identified; checking if Light, Signal or CCM is received on the port of the communication device that was blocked following a fault, to broadcast RAPS (No Request) for layer 2 network and RAPS (Flush) for layer 3 network after guard time expiry; periodically broadcasting a fault message by the one or more blocked ports of the communication devices, wherein the message gets terminated at the ports of the communication device within the linear chain network without reaching the non-ERPS device; flushing a Media Access Control (MAC) table entry of each communication device when each communication device receives the fault message; and unblocking of a root port link (RPL) of the linear chain or toggling of the communication device attached to the linear chain, for providing an alternate path to route network traffic after receipt of the fault message.