Patent ID: 9112781
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. An Ethernet packet switch operating method comprising: monitoring at least one performance characteristic of an active first packet tunnel configured to forward packets from a first device to a second device using operations administration and maintenance (OAM) packets or connectivity fault management protocol data unit (CFMPDU) packets, the Ethernet packet switch being configured to receive packets associated with the first packet tunnel and is an intermediate device between the first device and the second device; determining, based on the monitoring, that data describing the monitored performance characteristic should be forwarded to the first device, the first device being configured to selectively deactivate the first packet tunnel and activate a second packet tunnel configured to forward packets from the first device to the second device, wherein a deactivated packet tunnel relays only control packets and an activated packet tunnel relays both control packets and non-control packets; and sending the data describing the monitored performance characteristic to the first device to cause the first device to deactivate the first packet tunnel while still operational and activate the second packet tunnel; wherein the first packet tunnel and the second packet tunnel are defined by maintenance endpoints defined in IEEE 802.1ag, and wherein the first packet tunnel and the second packet tunnel are further defined by identifiers associated with Ethernet packets.