Inter-working mesh telecommunications networks

Abstract

Interruptions between a source in a first network and a destination in a second network are reduced by providing first primary and secondary nodes in the first network, and second primary and secondary nodes in the second network. First primary routes in the first network facilitate delivery of a first set of the data to the first primary node; and a second set of the data to the first secondary node. Inter-network routes between the first and second networks deliver the first and second sets of the data to the second primary node and the second secondary node. Second primary routes in the second network facilitate delivery of at least one of the first and second sets of data to the destination. A selector within the second network selects one of the sets of data. Route selectors select secondary routes in the event that a primary route is disabled.

1 . An inter-working network apparatus comprising: 
 first and second inter-network routes, between a first network and a second network;    a duplicator in the first network configured to duplicate a set of data provided by a source in the first network to produce a duplicate set of the data and to transmit the set of data over the first inter-network route and the duplicate set of the data over the second inter-network route; and    a data selector in the second network configured to select either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data received in the second network to provide to a destination in the second network.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first network is a ring network and the second network is a mesh network, or the first network is a mesh network and the second network is a ring network.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the first and second networks are mesh networks.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 in the first network, 
 a first primary node;  
 a first secondary node; and  
 a first set of primary routes to support transmission of the set of data from the source to the first primary node and the duplicate set of the data to the first secondary node; and  
   in the second network, 
 a second primary node;  
 a second secondary node; and  
 a second set of primary routes to support transmission of either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data from the second primary node or the second secondary node to the destination, if received over the first inter-network route or the second inter-network route.  
   
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first primary node is the duplicator and the second primary node is the data selector.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the first primary node is the duplicator and the second secondary node is the data selector.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein, in the first network, the first set of primary routes includes a first primary route between the source and the first primary node and a second primary route between the first primary node and the first secondary node.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein, in the second network, the second set of primary routes includes a third primary route between the second primary node and the destination and a fourth primary route between the second secondary node and the second primary node.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 4  further comprising: 
 in the first network, a first secondary route between the source and the first secondary node; and    in the second network, a second secondary route between the second secondary node and the destination.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 in the first network, a third secondary route between the source and the first primary node; and    in the second network, a fourth secondary route between the second primary node and the destination.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a first route selector that, in the event that the first primary route between the source and the first primary node is disabled, is configured to route the set of data from the source over the first secondary route through the first secondary node and over the second primary route to the first primary node, and, in the event that the second primary route between the first primary node and the first secondary node is disabled, is configured to route the duplicate set of the data from the first primary node over the first primary route through the source and over the first secondary route to the first secondary node.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 9  further comprising: 
 a second route selector that, in the event that the third primary route between the second primary node and the destination is disabled, is configured to route either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data received from the primary node over the second primary route through the second secondary node and over the second secondary route to the destination, and in the event that the fourth primary route between the second secondary node and the second primary node is disabled, is configured to route either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data received from the second secondary node over the second secondary route through the destination and over the third primary route to the second primary node.    
   
   
       13 . A method of inter-working networks, the method comprising: 
 duplicating a set of data provided by a source in a first network to provide a duplicate set of the data;    transmitting the set of data over a first inter-network route between the first network and a second network;    transmitting the duplicate set of the data over a second inter-network route between the first network and the second network; and    selecting either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data received in the second network to provide to a destination in a second network.    
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  further including inter-working a ring network and a mesh network.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 13  further including inter-working two respective mesh networks.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising: 
 defining, in the first network, a first primary node, a first secondary node, and a first set of primary routes to support transmission of the set of data from the source to the first primary node and the duplicate set of the data to the first secondary node; and    defining, in the second network, a second primary node, a second secondary node, and a second set of primary routes to support transmission of either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data from the second primary node or the second secondary node to the destination, if received over the first inter-network route or the second inter-network route.    
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 duplicating the set of data at the first primary node; and    selecting either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data received in the second network at the second primary node.    
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 duplicating the set of data at the first primary node; and    selecting either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data received in the second network at the second secondary node.    
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 16  wherein, in the first network, the first set of primary routes includes a first primary route between the source and the first primary node and a second primary route between the first primary node and the first secondary node.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein, in the second network, the second set of primary routes includes a third primary route between the second primary node and the destination and a fourth primary route between the second secondary node and the second primary node.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising: 
 defining, in the first network, a first secondary route between the source and the first secondary node; and    defining, in the second network, a second secondary route between the second secondary node and the destination.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 defining, in the first network, a third secondary route between the source and the first primary node; and    defining, in the second network, a fourth secondary route between the second primary node and the destination.    
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 routing, in the event that the first primary route between the source and the first primary node is disabled, the set of data from the source over the first secondary route through the first secondary node and over the second primary route to the first primary node; and    routing, in the even that the second primary route between the first primary node and the first secondary node is disabled, the duplicate set of the data from the first primary node over the first primary route through the source and over the first secondary route to the first secondary node.    
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 21  further comprising: 
 routing, in the event that the third primary route between the second primary node and the destination is disabled, either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data received from the primary node over the second primary route through the second secondary node and over the second secondary route to the destination; and    routing, in the event that the fourth primary route between the second secondary node and the second primary node is disabled, either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data received from the second secondary node over the second secondary route through the destination and over the third primary route to the second primary node.    
   
   
       25 . A communications network comprising: 
 a first network;    a second network; and    first and second inter-network routes, carrying respectively a set of data provided by a source in a first network and a duplicate set of the data, either the set of data or the duplicate set of the data being provided to a destination in a second network.