Patent ID: 7653526
Filing Date: 2010-01-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for emulating an Ethernet link over a Sonet path and providing link integrity, the method comprising: emulating an Ethernet link between a remote Ethernet port and a local Ethernet port for transporting Ethernet data, each of the remote and local Ethernet ports comprising a Sonet interface in communication with a Sonet path and an Ethernet interface in communication with an Ethernet link, the remote Ethernet port configured to transmit an error code identifying an incoming Ethernet link failure at the remote port, over a Sonet path in a Sonet path overhead upon detection of the incoming Ethernet link failure at the remote Ethernet port, the Sonet path comprising said emulated Ethernet link operable to transmit Ethernet link state during operation of the remote and local Ethernet ports with said incoming Ethernet link failure and without said incoming Ethernet link failure; upon receiving the error code at the local Ethernet port, waiting a first specified period of time and disabling the local Ethernet port at said Ethernet interface only in an Ethernet transmit direction to an outgoing Ethernet link if the error code is still present after the first specified period of time, wherein communication continues from the local Ethernet port to the remote Ethernet port using said emulated Ethernet link to provide Ethernet link integrity and said Ethernet link state after disabling the local Ethernet port; and upon detecting a Sonet path failure at said Sonet interface of the local Ethernet port, waiting a second specified period of time and entering a link down state in which the local Ethernet port is disabled in said Ethernet transmit direction and an Ethernet receive direction if the Sonet path failure is still present.