Protection Switching Method for Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) Ring Network

A critical innovation in network engineering has been patented in the form of a protection switching method for Ethernet Automatic Protection Switching (EAPS) ring networks. The invention, filed by ZTE Corporation, aims to mitigate the effects of link quality reduction in EAPS ring networks by introducing a novel restoration switching mechanism. This breakthrough is poised to enhance the robustness and reliability of EAPS networks, alleviating unnecessary switching and reducing network element loads.

Key Takeaways:

• The protection switching method involves a master node with a secondary port module, state judgment module, count module, and restoration module to manage Hello messages and switch restoration.
• The master node counts the number of received Hello messages within a preset duration and restores the network if the count exceeds a predefined threshold.
• The invention aims to reduce unnecessary switching caused by link quality reduction, alleviate network element loads, and increase the robustness of EAPS ring networks.
• The patent, filed under Application No. PCT/CN2010/077376, was submitted by ZTE Corporation on September 27, 2010.
• The applicants behind the patent are Yang Liu, Tiemin Xie, and ZTE Corporation.
• The invention excludes the US patent application, with Yang Liu and Tiemin Xie listed as inventors for US only.

Statistics:

• The patent application was filed on September 27, 2010, under PCT/CN2010/077376.
• The invention aims to reduce unnecessary switching by optimizing the network's response to link quality reduction.
• The patent was published on January 5, 2012, under Publication No. WO/2012/000243.
• The master node's secondary port module is responsible for receiving and processing Hello messages.

Sources:

• World Intellectual Property Organization: Publication No. WO/2012/000243
• ZTE Corporation: Applicants and inventors with patent application PCT/CN2010/077376