Patent ID: 6959000
Filing Date: 2005-10-25
Classification: H04J,H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
1. In a communications system utilizing a digital cross-connect system (DCS) element management system (EMS) for managing DCS network elements and a SONET EMS for managing SONET add/drop multiplexer (ADM) network elements, apparatus comprising: a non-homogeneous SONET ring network including a plurality of ADMs; a plurality of DCS elements, each of said plurality of DCS elements being managed by said DOCS EMS, at least one of said plurality of DCS elements including an ADM of said plurality of ADMs that is logically coupled to said non-homogeneous SONET ring network, said ADM being virtually coupled to said at least one DCS by a digital link, such that said non-homogeneous SONET ring network including said plurality of ADMs is managed by said SONET EMS, so that the respective DCS and SONET EMSs manage the hybrid ring structure in a manner that avoids logically decomposing the SONET network elements of the non-homogeneous SONET ring network into one or more SONET arcs.