Abstract:
An optical transport network signal (OTM) comprising at least one optical channel is received at a first network equipment. The optical transport network signal (OTM) is processed to extract optical data units (ODUk) for each optical channel (OCh). There is detection for defects during the processing. The optical data units are retransmitted within optical transport units (OTUk) towards a second network equipment. When a defect has been detected, the retransmitting comprises inserting an optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS) in an optical channel transport unit (OTUk) containing optical channel data units (ODUk) that are affected by the detected defect. The second network equipment detects for the presence of the optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS) and generation of an alarm is inhibited for any optical channel data units (ODUk) contained within the optical channel transport unit that comprises the optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS). The network equipments can comprise a WDM or DWDM equipment and a cross-connect.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for the processing of alarms in an Optical Transport Network (OTN). 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Telecommunication network operators are upgrading their optical backbones to Optical Transport Networks (OTN) based on the International Telecommunications Union ITU-T G.709 hierarchy. OTN has been used for Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed (DWDM) point-to-point links and is now being extended to larger scale networks comprising DWDM links, OTN cross-connects and other transmission equipment. 
         [0003]    One way of evolving the currently deployed OTN point-to-point links to implement an optical switched network is to add OTN cross-connects to the existing DWDM equipment. The OTN cross-connects switch at the level of Optical Channel Data Units (ODUk). An operator typically has the options of either using DWDM equipments and OTN cross-connects from a single vendor or using DWDM equipments and OTN cross-connects from different vendors. The provision of two separate network equipments can cause issues in terms of alarm generation and reporting when a defect occurs on an optical link, particularly when the separate network equipments are provided by different vendors. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide an improved way of processing alarm signals in network equipments which process optical channel data units. Embodiments of the present invention seek to provide an apparatus arranged to implement an improved processing of alarm signals. 
         [0005]    A first aspect of the present invention provides a method of processing an optical transport network signal comprising at least one optical channel. The method comprises, at a first network equipment, receiving the optical transport network signal and processing the received optical transport network signal to extract optical data units for each optical channel. The method further comprises detecting for defects during the processing step and retransmitting the optical data units within optical transport units towards a second network equipment. When a defect has been detected, the retransmitting comprises inserting an optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS) in an optical channel transport unit containing optical channel data units that are affected by the detected defect. 
         [0006]    OTUk-AIS is a maintenance signal defined in G.709 but, currently, its insertion as consequent action of any defect is not yet specified by ITU-T. Therefore, in a standard Optical Transport Network, OTUk-AIS cannot be present. OTUk-AIS is defined in G.709 as a signal with a 2047-bit pseudorandom repeating sequence. 
         [0007]    A second aspect of the present invention provides a method of processing an optical transport network signal at a second network equipment ( 20 ) downstream of a first network equipment ( 20 ). The method comprises receiving optical channel transport units and detecting for the presence of an optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS) in the received optical channel transport units. The method further comprises inhibiting the generation of an alarm to an external entity, such as a network management system, for any optical channel data units (ODUk) contained within the optical channel transport unit (OTUk) that comprises the optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal (OTUk-AIS). Advantageously, the method inhibits the generation of alarms, at the second network equipment, at both the optical channel transport unit (OTUk) layer and the optical channel data unit (ODUk) layer. 
         [0008]    Both aspects of the invention allow the second network equipment to inhibit, or suppress, generation of alarms in situations where a root defect has already been detected by, and an alarm raised by, the first network equipment. The OTUk-AIS is used as a Server Signal Fail (SSF) indication between the first network equipment and the second network equipment. Operating in this way reduces the overall number of alarms issued in the network in response to a defect, and allows a Network Management System to more quickly and accurately determine the root cause of a defect. The method is particularly useful in situations where the first and second network equipments are provided by different equipment vendors. The method is also useful in situations where the first and second network equipments are provided by the same equipment vendor but there is no mechanism for correlating alarms between the first and second network equipments. 
         [0009]    Further aspects of the invention provide network equipments for performing the methods. 
         [0010]    An aspect of the present invention provides a first optical transmission network equipment comprising an input for receiving an optical transport network signal comprising at least one optical channel. The equipment further comprises termination apparatus for processing the received optical transport network signal to extract optical data units for each optical channel and detect for defects. The equipment further comprises an output stage arranged to retransmit the optical data units within optical transport units towards a second network equipment. The output stage is arranged, when a defect has been detected, to insert an optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal in an optical channel transport unit containing optical channel data units that are affected by the detected defect. 
         [0011]    Another aspect of the present invention provides a second optical transmission network equipment comprises an input for receiving optical channel transport units. The equipment further comprises termination apparatus arranged to detect for the presence of an optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal in the received optical channel transport units. The termination apparatus is arranged to inhibit the generation of an alarm for any optical channel data units contained within the optical channel transport unit that comprises the optical channel transport unit alarm indication signal. 
         [0012]    The second optical transmission network equipment can comprise at least one of a cross-connect, an add-drop multiplexer, and a terminal. 
         [0013]    The functionality described here can be implemented in software, hardware or a combination of these. The functionality can be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements and by means of a suitably programmed processing apparatus. The processing apparatus can comprise a computer, a processor, a state machine, a logic array or any other suitable processing apparatus. The processing apparatus can be a general-purpose processor which executes software to cause the general-purpose processor to perform the required tasks, or the processing apparatus can be dedicated to perform the required functions. Another aspect of the invention provides machine-readable instructions (software) which, when executed by a processor, perform any of the described methods. The machine-readable instructions may be stored on an electronic memory device, hard disk, optical disk or other machine-readable storage medium. The machine-readable instructions can be downloaded to a processing apparatus via a network connection. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  shows the OTN hierarchy; 
           [0016]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show DWDM equipment connecting to an OTN cross-connect; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  shows an example of alarms generated when a fault occurs on an optical link; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  shows another example of alarm generation; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  shows an example of alarm generation according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  shows a DWDM equipment according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  shows the format of the OTUk-AIS signal; 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-connect according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  shows a method of operating DWDM equipment connected to an OTN cross-connect; 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  shows an OTN cross-connect coupled to two DWDM equipments; 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  shows an OTN network with cross-connects and DWDM equipments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    Before describing embodiments of the invention, it is considered helpful to give an overview of the hierarchy of the Optical Transport Network (OTN).  FIG. 1  shows the hierarchical layers used in transporting data over an OTN. Client data can include Ethernet packets, Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) traffic, Internet Protocol (IP) packets and various other traffic types. The client data is encapsulated with an OPUk overhead to form an Optical Channel Payload Unit (OPUk), with k taking a value k=0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and indicating a particular one of the multiple supported bit rates. The OPUk is intended to be carried end-to-end between a source and sink and is not modified by the network. An Optical Channel Data Unit (ODUk) comprises a payload of an OPUk with an ODUk overhead. Again, the letter k can take a value k=0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and indicates a particular bit rate, e.g. ODU 1 =2.5 Gbps, ODU 2 =10 Gbps, ODU 3 =40 Gbps. An Optical Channel Transport Unit (OTUk) comprises a payload of an ODUk with an OTUk overhead and forward error correction. Finally, an optical channel (OCh) comprises an OTUk with an overhead. The OPUk, ODUk and OTUk are in the electrical domain. The OCh is carried in the optical domain and will be carried over a particular wavelength channel of a WDM or DWDM transmission system. Additional layers exist in the optical domain, beneath the optical channel. These include an Optical Multiplex Section (OMS), an Optical Transport Section (OTS) and an Optical Physical Section (OPS). 
         [0027]      FIGS. 2 and 3  show examples of OTN network equipment. In  FIG. 2  a DWDM equipment  10  connects to an optical link  5  carrying an Optical Transport Module (OTM-n) signal. The OTM-n is a signal with n Optical Channel (OCh) signals, i.e. optical channel signals on n wavelengths (λ) of a fibre. The DWDM equipment  10  receives the OTM-n signal and outputs data units received on each of the n wavelength channels (λ). The data units are sent by a set of transponders  12  on the output interface of the DWDM equipment  10  to traffic cards  22  on the input interface of a cross-connect  20 . As explained above, the cross-connect operates at the ODUk level of the OTN and is called an ODUk cross-connect. The data units for each wavelength channel are carried across a separate link  15  in optical form. Typically the links  15  are “grey” interfaces OTM-0.k. Coloured interfaces (i.e. OTM-1r.k) could also be used. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  shows a cross-connect  20  connected to two DWDM equipments  10 ,  30 . In  FIGS. 2 and 3  the DWDM equipments  10 ,  30  can be supplied by a different vendor to the cross-connect  20 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  shows an example scenario which can occur with the equipment of  FIGS. 2 and 3 . The transmission system has four wavelength channels. Each optical channel carries data units which are structured as shown in  FIG. 1 . Suppose there is a problem on the optical link  5  carrying the optical transport modules (OTM-n) received by DWDM equipment  10 . The problem could be a loss of signal defect (dLOS) or any defect at the Optical Physical Section (OPS), Optical Transmission Section (OTS) or Optical Multiplex Section (OMS) layers which can result in the insertion of consequent actions at the ODU layer in addition to the defect detected by the DWDM equipment. The consequent actions are the insertion of Alarm Indication Signals (AIS). Another example of a defect is dTIm, which can have the insertion of ODUk-AIS as a consequent action. Another example of a defect is the FDI (Forward Defect Indication) which is defined for OMS and OCh. For OMSn section monitoring, the OMSn-FDI-P signal is defined to convey in the downstream direction the OMSn payload signal status (normal or failed). 
         [0030]    The insertion of the consequent action is performed by transponders on the DWDM equipment  10  according to ITU-T G.798 Standard. The ODU-AIS are sent to the ODUk cross-connect encapsulated in a valid OTUk (i.e. valid OUT OH and valid FEC). The ODUk cross-connect  20  will detect as many ODUk-AIS as wavelength channels (λ) affected by the defect originally detected by the DWDM equipment  10  and raise alarms to a NMS. 
         [0031]      FIG. 5  shows another example scenario which can occur with the equipment of  FIG. 3 . In this scenario an operator cannot easily discern which of the ODUk-AIS alarms raised by the ODUk cross-connect  20  are due to the failure detected on the DWDM equipment  10  (i.e. the ODUk-AIS alarms (dAIS) shown on the left) and which are due to another failure in the network (i.e. the ODUk-AIS alarms (dAIS) shown on the right). 
         [0032]      FIG. 6  shows operation of equipments  10 ,  20  according to an embodiment of the invention. On detection of a defect at DWDM equipment  10 , OTUk-AIS is injected into OTUk frames at equipment  10 . This is subsequently detected at cross-connect  20 , downstream of the DWDM equipment  10 . The cross-connect  20  detects the presence of the OTUk-AIS inserted by the DWDM equipment  10  and masks issuing of any ODUk-AIS alarms to a NMS. Accordingly, an alarm is raised only by the equipment  10  nearest to the occurrence of the defect. 
         [0033]      FIG. 7  shows the DWDM equipment  10  in more detail. At a DWDM equipment  10  the optical network signal OTM-n is received and some layers of the OTN hierarchy are terminated by an optical termination unit  102 . The optical layers of the OTN are terminated, i.e. the physical layer (OPS/PHY), Optical Transport Section (OTS) layer, Optical Multiplex Section (OMS) layer and Optical Channel (OCh) layer. As part of the termination of the optical layers, a defect may be detected at one or more of the OPS, OTS, OMS and OCh layers. As part of the termination of these OTN layers, defect detection is performed by unit  103 A. When a defect is detected, it is communicated to the alarm correlation unit  104 . 
         [0034]    OTUk signals are output to an OTU processing unit  106 . This unit performs the OTUk OH and FEC processing. A defect detection unit  103 B detects defects at this level and, when a defect is found, it is communicated to the alarm correlation unit  104 . 
         [0035]    Alarm correlation unit  104 , according to ITU-T G.798, correlates all the defects detected by the different defect units  103 A,  103 B and issues the correct alarm  105  to a Network Management System (NMS). 
         [0036]    Unit  106  outputs optical data units (ODU) to a unit  107  which performs OTU/ODU adaptation and OTU generation. The OTU/ODU adaptation is the function that, according to G.798, inserts ODU-AIS as a consequent action of the failures detected at OPS/OTS/OMS/OCh/OTUk levels. 
         [0037]    Conventionally, a consequential action management function  108  will issue an instruction to generate an ODUk-AIS and a consequential action insertion function  109  generates the ODUk-AIS in the overhead section of an ODUk frame and the OTUk generation function  107  will encapsulate the ODUk into a new OTUk with OH and FEC. 
         [0038]    However, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, the consequential action management unit  108  does not operate in this conventional manner. Instead, the consequential action management unit  108  issues an instruction to generate an OTUk-AIS in an OTUk frame when a defect has been detected by either of the defect detection units  103 A,  103 B. Unit  109  generates the OTUk-AIS, when instructed to do so by the consequential action management unit  108 . According to G.798, the defects that require the insertion of a consequent action are:
       OPS layer (physical layer): dLOS;   OTS Layer: dLOS-P, dTIM;   OMS Layer: dLOS-P, dFDI-P;   OCh Layer: dOCI, dLOS-P, dFDI-P;   OTUk layer: dLOF, dLOM, dTIM.       
 
         [0044]    The OTUk-AIS injected by unit  109  is a generic AIS signal as defined in G.709 section 16.6.1 and ITU-T 0.150, section 5.2. It is a signal with a 2047-bit (2 11 -1) pseudorandom sequence, which can be generated using an eleven-stage shift register whose 9th and 11th stage outputs are added in a modulo-two addition stage, and the result fed back to the input of the first stage. This can also be called a polynomial number  11  (PN-11) repeating sequence. The PN-11 sequence fills the entire OTUk frame.  FIG. 8  shows an OTUk frame and the extent of the PN-11 sequence. The OTUk frame is carried as an OTM-0.k signal connecting the DWDM equipment  10  to the ODUk cross-connect  20 . The OTUk-AIS signal is defined in G.709 but insertion of this signal is not foreseen by G.798, which is the recommendation defining how OTN functional blocks operate. Currently, in a G.709/G.798 compliant network there is no scenario where the OTUk-AIS maintenance signal is used and therefore detectable. Therefore, when the traffic cards of the ODUk cross-connect receive an OTUk-AIS it can be only because the DWDM equipment  10  is signalling in the manner described above. 
         [0045]    After processing in unit  107 , OTUk signals are output to an optical output unit  110  which performs electrical-to-optical conversion of the signal. Signals are output from unit  110  as a set of not coloured (i.e. grey) channels named OTM-0.k ( 15 ) as defined by ITU-T G.709. This prevents optical interoperability issues between the equipments  10 ,  20 . 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-connect  20  in more detail The set of signals output by the DWDM equipment  10  are received at traffic cards  22 . Each signal is typically received in OTM-0.k form. One of the traffic cards  22  is shown in detail, and comprises an optical interface/termination unit  202 , an OTU termination unit  204  and an ODU monitoring unit  209 . The optical signals received on links  15  are terminated, the presence of a possible physical defect is detected by the defect detection unit  206 A. If a defect is found, a signal is output to the alarm correlation unit  210  and to the consequent action management unit  211 . OTUk data units are output to OTU termination unit  204 . OTUk signals are decoded to the ODUk level and output to ODU monitoring function  209 . Finally the ODUk is output to a cross-connect function  208 . Typically, this forwards data units across a switching fabric according to a destination of each data unit. The cross-connect  208  has a set of buffers, with each buffer holding a queue of data units for each output port of the cross-connect. 
         [0047]    OTU termination unit  204  includes a defect detection unit  206 B for the detection of defects at OTUk layer. One of the detection functions is an OTUk-AIS detection function  205 . All the detected defects are forwarded to the alarm correlation unit  210  and to the consequent action management unit  211 . 
         [0048]    ODU monitoring unit  209  includes a defect detection unit  206 C for the detection of defects at ODUk layer. One of the detection functions is an OTUk-AIS detection function  205 . All the detected defects are forwarded to the alarm correlation unit  210 . 
         [0049]    Alarm correlation unit  210  receives the defects detected from the defect detection units  206 A,  206 B,  206 C and decides which alarm  207 , if any, has to be presented to the NMS. G.798 describes rules for alarm correlation. In the case of an OTUk-AIS detected by unit  205 , then the alarm correlation unit inhibits generation of an alarm  207  for that optical channel. In case of ODUk-AIS detected by unit  212  and no contemporary presence of any other server defects (i.e. defects detected by unit  206 A and by unit  206 B), then the alarm correlation unit issues an ODUk-AIS alarm to the NMS as per ITU-T G.798. In general, only the alarm with higher hierarchy is issued to the NMS. For example: (i) if a defect is detected at OPS layer, the alarm for that defect is issued but all the other possible defects, detected at OTUk/ODUk layers are not issued; (ii) if no defect is detected at OPS layer but a defect is detected at OTUk layer, the alarm for that defect is issued but all the other possible defects, detected at ODUk layer, are not issued. A modification of the operation of the alarm correlation unit  210  according to an embodiment of the invention, compared to G.798, is that if the defect detected at OTUk layer is OTUk-AIS, no OTUk-AIS alarm is issued for that defect and alarms for all the other possible defects detected at the ODUk layer are not issued. 
         [0050]    Based on the defects detected by units  206 A,  206 B,  206 C the consequent action management unit  211  issues an instruction  213  to a consequent action insertion unit  214  to inject an ODUk-AIS signal in an ODUk frame as per ITU-T G.798 Recommendation. The OTUk-AIS is a PN-11 sequence that fills all of the OTU frame, including the OH and the OTU Payload, as shown in  FIG. 8 . When the ODU cross-connect  20  detects the OTUk-AIS at unit  205 , then consequent action management unit  211  causes consequent action insertion unit  214  to inject an ODUk-AIS. This comprises adding a valid Frame alignment word to the OH and a particular code in the PM byte of the ODU-OH. The contents of the remaining part of the ODUk-OH and ODU payload can take any value. 
         [0051]      FIG. 10  shows steps of the method performed by the equipments  10 ,  20  shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . At step  301   a  DWDM equipment  10  detects a fault when processing at least one of the Physical, OTS, OMS, OCh and OTUk layers. If a defect is found, an alarm  302  is sent to the NMS. Also, OTUk-AIS  303  is generated in the OTUk frames affected by the detected defect. The OTUk frames are forwarded to the cross-connect  20 . At cross-connect  20 , the frames are received. In situations where a defect was detected at the DWDM equipment  10 , the received signal contains OTUk-AIS. At step  304  cross-connect  20  detects the OTUk-AIS. Detecting OTUk-AIS causes the cross-connect  20  to inhibit generation of an alarm  305  to the NMS. Cross-connect  20  generates ODUk-AIS on each channel on which OTUk-AIS is detected, to fulfil the requirements of G.798. At step  306  the ODUk units are forwarded, across the cross-connect, to another network node. Operating in this manner results in the NMS receiving one alarm at step  302 , rather than the NMS receiving an alarm at step  302  and a further burst of alarms at step  305 . In the case of a failure in the network, the ODUk cross-connect  20  receives an ODUk-AIS encapsulated inside an OTUk. It reacts by raising the dODUk-AIS alarm (as required by G.798), as in this case it is certain that the failure is not in the DWDM equipment, but somewhere else in the network. 
         [0052]      FIG. 11  shows an OTN cross-connect  20  coupled to two DWDM equipments  10 ,  30 . Each DWDM equipment  10 ,  30  operates as described above. A defect occurring on link  5  is detected at DWDM equipment  10  and an alarm is raised by the DWDM equipment  10  to a NMS. DWDM equipment  10  generates OTUk-AIS on all channels affected by the defect. Cross-connect detects the OTUk-AIS and suppresses the generation of further alarms at the OTUk and ODUk layers. In this way, the defect is detected and reported by the network equipment nearest the defect (in link  5 ), without the OTN cross-connect  20  generating unnecessary additional alarms. DWDM equipment  30 , connected to link  35 , operates in a similar manner as equipment  10 . This will ensure that defects in link  35  are detected and reported by DWDM equipment  30 , and do not raise further alarms at cross-connect  20 . If a defect should occur at cross-connect  20  on the interface with DWDM equipment  10 , or the interface with DWDM equipment  30 , or in another part of the network, apart the DWDM equipment, the interface detects and reports the alarm. In  FIG. 11  a ODUk-AIS defect is detected at cross-connect  20  on the interface with the DWDM equipment  30  and is reported  36 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 12  shows another embodiment of the invention. A DWDM equipment  10  and cross-connect  20  form part of an OTN network  50 . Following a failure in the middle of the network (e.g. a break of a fibre  5 ), DWDM equipment  10  detects LOS in the ingress side. DWDM equipment  10  forwards an OTU-AIS to the ODUk cross-connect  20 . The ODUk cross-connect  20  detects the OTUk-AIS and will inject an ODUk-AIS into a valid OTUk sent to the next DWDM equipment. So, from that point on there is an ODUk-AIS in the network inside a valid OTUk. When this signal reaches any downstream node, the DWDM equipment  40  at that node does not detect any alarm because the OTUk is valid and the DWDM equipment is not required to monitor the ODUk. Therefore, the DWDM equipment  40  does not detect any defect, and the ODUk cross-connect  45  detects the ODUk-AIS because the ODUk cross-connect  20  is required to monitor also the ODUk. 
         [0054]    Modifications and other embodiments of the disclosed invention will come to mind to one skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure. Although specific terms may be employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.