Shared network ring protection

Abstract

A shared protect link extends between adjacent nodes that are shared by two or more adjacent BLSR rings. The shared protect link obviates the need for separate protect links between the adjacent nodes for each of the rings. A composite BLSR controller resides in each of the adjacent nodes. The composite BLSR controllers coordinate usage of the shared protect link, for example as a result of a span switch or a ring switch request. The composite BLSR controllers also coordinate transmission of signaling information for each of the rings over the common span between the adjacent nodes. In one embodiment, the signaling information is sent over separate channels of the common span. In another embodiment, the signaling information is multiplexed over the shared protect link. Each ring can be assigned a ring ID. The communication protocol between the adjacent nodes can be modified to tag the signaling information with the appropriate ring ID. The composite BLSR controller can include a standard BLSR controller for each of the adjacent rings and a translator logically between the standard BLSR controllers and the spans.

1 . A method of multiplexing signaling information from a plurality of rings onto a single channel, comprising: 
 assigning a ring identifier to each of the plurality of rings;    tagging a message containing signaling information from one of the plurality of rings with a ring identifier of the one of the plurality of rings; and    sending the message over the single channel.