Patent ID: 9148223
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: H04B,H04J,H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A network, comprising: a plurality of interconnected hybrid packet-optical switches each including a packet switch and an Optical Transport Network (OTN) switch; and an Ethernet private local area network (EPLAN) over the plurality of hybrid packet-optical switches, the EPLAN utilizing a multi-point configuration; wherein each of the hybrid packet-optical switches in the multi-point configuration is configured with Layer 1 switching when configured as a two degree node and additionally with Layer 2 switching via dedicated virtual switching instances when configured as a three or more degree node; wherein the packet switch comprises flow interface options, logical interface options, and physical ports communicatively coupled to the OTN switch, and wherein the OTN switch provides add/drop at an Optical channel Data Unit (ODU) level via dedicated low-order ODUs, multiplexed Optical channel Transport Units (OTUs) in high-order ODUs, or private through-switched ODUs; and wherein a management system is partitioned such that a service provider associated with the plurality of interconnected hybrid packet-optical switches views and monitors Layer 1 and Layer 2 connectivity and an enterprise associated with the EPLAN monitors Layer 2 connectivity, and wherein the management system is configured to receive a set of ports and provision the EPLAN via Software Defined Networking.