Error detection for data frames

Abstract

A method for detecting data frame mode mismatch errors may include receiving a data frame that includes an overhead byte. It may be determined whether a value associated with the overhead byte indicates that a transmitting device operating mode matches a receiving device operating mode. In an additional implementation, it may be determined whether a value associated with the overhead byte indicates that a transmitting device output port matches a receiving device input port. An alarm may be generated when it is determined that the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that either the transmitting device operating mode does not match the receiving device operating mode or the transmitting device output port does not match the receiving device input port.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method, performed by a device, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a processor of the device, a low line rate data frame including an overhead byte;   determining, by the processor, whether a value associated with the overhead byte indicates that a transmitting device operating mode matches a receiving device operating mode, where the overhead byte further indicates whether the low line rate data frame should be reassembled with other low line rate data frames to form a high line rate data frame;   generating, by the processor, an alarm when the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that the transmitting device operating mode does not match the receiving device operating mode; and   sending, by the processor, the alarm to the transmitting device.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , where the alarm includes a loss of frame alarm. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , where the alarm includes a line remote defect indication. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 determining, when the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that the transmitting device operating mode matches the receiving device operating mode, whether the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that a transmitting device output port matches a receiving device input port; and   generating a second alarm when the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that the transmitting device output port does not match the receiving device input port.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 shutting down a physical interface between the transmitting device and the receiving device following the generating of the alarm.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising:
 processing the low line rate data frame in accordance with the transmitting device operating mode and the receiving device operation mode when the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that the transmitting device operating mode matches the receiving device operating mode.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 reframing the low line rate data frame into a high line rate data frame with additional low line data frames when the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that the transmitting device operating mode matches the receiving device operating mode.   
     
     
         33 . A device, comprising:
 a processor to:
 receive a high line rate data frame; 
 disassemble the high line rate data frame into a plurality of low line rate data frames; 
 set an overhead byte value for each of the plurality of low line rate data frames, the overhead byte value indicating that the four low line rate data frames should be reassembled as the high line rate data frame; and 
 output the plurality of low line rate data frames to a receiving device. 
   
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 33 , where the processor is further to:
 set a pay overload (POH) byte to indicate the mode of operation of the network device.   
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , where a POH byte value of 0x00 indicates a first mode of operation and a Z4 POH byte value of 0xF0, 0xF1, 0xF2, or 0xF3 indicates a second mode of operation. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 35 , where the first mode of operation includes an OC768-OVER-4xOC192 mode of operation and the second mode of operation includes a 4xOC192 mode of operation. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 34 , where the processor is further to:
 set the POH byte value to indicate a respective output port for each of the plurality of low line rate data frames.   
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 33 , where the plurality of low line rate data frames includes four low line rate data frames. 
     
     
         39 . The device of  claim 33 , where the processor is further to:
 receive an alarm signal from the receiving device when the operating mode of the device does not match an operating mode of the receiving device.   
     
     
         40 . A network device comprising:
 a processor to:
 receive a low line rate data frame including an overhead byte; 
 determine whether a value associated with the overhead byte indicates that a transmitting device operating mode matches a receiving device operating mode, where the overhead byte further indicates whether the low line rate data frame should be reassembled with other low line rate data frames to form a high line rate data frame; 
 generate an alarm when the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that the transmitting device operating mode does not match the receiving device operating mode; and 
 send the alarm to the transmitting device. 
   
     
     
         41 . The network device of  claim 40 , where the alarm includes a loss of frame alarm. 
     
     
         42 . The network device of  claim 40 , where the alarm includes a line remote defect indication. 
     
     
         43 . The network device of  claim 40 , where the processor is further to:
 determine whether the overhead byte value indicates that a transmitting device output port matches a receiving device input port; and   generate a second alarm when the overhead byte value indicates that the transmitting device output port does not match the receiving device input port.   
     
     
         44 . The network device of  claim 40 , where the processor is further to:
 shut down a physical interface between the transmitting device and the receiving device following the generating of the alarm.   
     
     
         45 . The network device of  claim 40 , where the processor is further to:
 process the low line rate data frame in accordance with the transmitting device operating mode and the receiving device operation mode when the value associated with the overhead byte indicates that the transmitting device operating mode matches the receiving device operating mode.