Patent ID: 7173936
Filing Date: 2007-02-06
Classification: H04J,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of allocating bandwidth capacity for data frames transmitted over a SONET ring, comprising the steps of: subdividing a payload portion of at least one of the SONET data frames comprising a SONET layer into two or more logical channels, each logical channel having associated therewith a predetermined or dynamically configured bandwidth capacity; assigning a predetermined or dynamically configured protection mechanism to each logical channel, wherein the predetermined or dynamically configured protection mechanism for each logical channel is balanced against bandwidth utilization requirements of grouped data frames that are grouped depending upon protection desired, and wherein each logical channel can be assigned a different protection mechanism; monitoring the SONET ring transmission to determine a type of traffic carried by each logical channel and the protection mechanisms associated with each logical channel; routing the data frames to one or more of various hardware switches depending upon the traffic type within each logical channel; and sharing bandwidth amongst a plurality of nodes in a SONET network; and wherein each SONET data frame includes a plurality of logical channels.