Method and apparatus for assigning and allocating network resources to layer 1 virtual private networks

Abstract

Network resources are assigned as dedicated, shared, or public network resources. The resources are then allocated to L1-VPN subscribers on demand. Splitting assignment of the resources from allocation of the resources enables resources to be assigned to more than one subscriber on the network. Temporary physical dedication of the resources to one of the subscribers may be accomplished by allocating the assigned resources on demand, so that particular subscribers are provided with dedicated resources on an as-needed basis. Dedication of the network resources allows the network resources to be configured, managed, and controlled by the customers. The network resources may be optical resources and the links may be time slots on particular fibers. Optionally, by enabling prioritization to cause displacement of link allocations, additional flexibility may be obtained in allocating links to L1-VPNs such as by allowing the use of private and shared resources by other subscribers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A communication network, comprising a set of Layer 1 Virtual Private Network (VPN) resources, a first subset of the Layer 1 VPN resources being designated as dedicated Layer 1 VPN resources, and a second subset of the Layer 1 VPN resources being designated as shared Layer 1 VPN resources. 
     
     
         2 . The communication network of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the dedicated Layer 1 VPN resources is assigned only to a first Layer 1 VPN subscriber. 
     
     
         3 . The communication network of  claim 2 , wherein the at least the portion of the dedicated Layer 1 VPN resources assigned only to the first Layer 1 VPN subscriber may only be used by the first Layer 1 VPN subscriber. 
     
     
         4 . The communication network of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the shared Layer 1 VPN resources is assigned to be shared by at least two Layer 1 VPN subscribers. 
     
     
         5 . The communication network of  claim 4 , wherein the at least the portion of the shared Layer 1 VPN resources assigned to be shared by the at least two Layer 1 VPN subscribers may be used by one of the at least two Layer 1 VPN subscribers at a time. 
     
     
         6 . The communication network of  claim 1 , wherein a third subset of the Layer 1 VPN resources is designated as public Layer 1 VPN resources. 
     
     
         7 . The communication network of  claim 6 , further comprising a network management function adapted:
 to collect information about the Layer 1 VPN resources in the communication network;   to designate the first subset of the Layer 1 VPN resources as the dedicated Layer 1 VPN resources;   to designate the second subset of the Layer 1 VPN resources as the shared Layer 1 VPN resources; and   to designate the third subset of the Layer 1 VPN resources as the public Layer 1 VPN resources.   
     
     
         8 . The communication network of  claim 1 , wherein Layer 1 VPN resources not designated as the dedicated Layer 1 VPN resources and not designated as the shared Layer 1 VPN resources are public Layer 1 VPN resources. 
     
     
         9 . The communication network of  claim 1 , further comprising a network management function adapted:
 to collect information about the Layer 1 VPN resources in the communication network;   to designate the first subset of the Layer 1 VPN resources as the dedicated Layer 1 VPN resources; and   to designate the second subset of the Layer 1 VPN resources as the shared Layer 1 VPN resources.   
     
     
         10 . The communication network of  claim 1 , further comprising a network management function adapted to communicate information associated with designations of the Layer 1 VPN resources to network elements to enable the Layer 1 VPN resources to be allocated on the communication network. 
     
     
         11 . A communication network comprising a plurality of network nodes interconnected by Layer 1 Virtual Private Network (VPN) resources, the plurality of network nodes being adapted:
 to receive assignment information associated with assignment of the Layer 1 VPN resource to Layer 1 VPNs;   to receive a request associated with a particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber for a Layer 1 VPN resource; and   to allocate to the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource to fulfill the request based on the assignment information.   
     
     
         12 . The communication network of  claim 11 , further comprising enabling the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber to control the at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource. 
     
     
         13 . The communication network of  claim 11 , further comprising enabling the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber to configure the at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource. 
     
     
         14 . The communication network of  claim 11 , further comprising enabling the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber to manage the at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource. 
     
     
         15 . The communication network of  claim 11 , wherein the assignment information contains an indication of which Layer 1 VPN resources are Layer 1 VPN resources that may only be used by one particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber, and which Layer 1 VPN resources are Layer 1 VPN resources that may only be used by Layer 1 VPN subscribers in a particular group of Layer 1 VPN subscribers. 
     
     
         16 . The communication network of  claim 11 , wherein the network nodes are adapted to allocate the at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource by determining which Layer 1 VPN resources have been assigned to the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber, and preferentially allocating Layer 1 VPN resources to the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber from those Layer 1 VPN resources that have been assigned to the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber. 
     
     
         17 . The communication network of  claim 11 , wherein the network nodes are adapted to allocate the at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource by determining which Layer 1 VPN resources have been assigned to the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber, and by determining which of the Layer 1 VPN resources assigned to the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber are already allocated to a subscriber. 
     
     
         18 . The communication network of  claim 17 , wherein the network nodes are further adapted to allocate the at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource by preferentially selecting to fulfill the request by any Layer 1 VPN resource that has been assigned to the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber and that is not currently allocated to a subscriber, and by selecting at least one public Layer 1 VPN resource to augment the assigned resource to fulfill the request if necessary. 
     
     
         19 . The communication network of  claim 17 , wherein the network nodes are adapted to allocate the at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource by prioritizing between Layer 1 VPN subscribers to enable a first Layer 1 VPN subscriber associated with an assigned Layer 1 VPN resource to preempt a second Layer 1 VPN subscriber currently allocated the assigned Layer 1 VPN resource. 
     
     
         20 . The communication network of  claim 19 , wherein the prioritizing results in a transfer of the assigned Layer 1 VPN resource from the second Layer 1 VPN subscriber to the first Layer 1 VPN subscriber. 
     
     
         21 . The communication network of  claim 20 , wherein transfer of the assigned Layer 1 VPN resource from the second Layer 1 VPN subscriber to the first Layer 1 VPN subscriber results in transfer of control of the transferred Layer 1 VPN resource from the second Layer 1 VPN subscriber to the first Layer 1 VPN subscriber. 
     
     
         22 . The communication network of  claim 11 , wherein the network nodes are adapted to allocate at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource to fulfill the request by temporarily allocating the at least one assigned Layer 1 VPN resource to be used by only the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber for an allocation period. 
     
     
         23 . The communication network of  claim 22 , wherein the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber has control of the allocated Layer 1 VPN resource during the allocation period. 
     
     
         24 . The communication network of  claim 22 , wherein the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber can configure the allocated Layer 1 VPN resource during the allocation period. 
     
     
         25 . The communication network of  claim 22 , wherein the particular Layer 1 VPN subscriber can manage the allocated Layer 1 VPN resource during the allocation period. 
     
     
         26 . The communication network of  claim 22 , wherein the allocation of Layer 1 VPN resources by the network nodes allows the same Layer 1 VPN resources to be allocated to more than one Layer 1 VPN subscriber at a time. 
     
     
         27 . The communication network of  claim 22 , wherein the allocation of Layer 1 VPN resources by the network nodes allows the same Layer 1 VPN resources to be controlled by more than one Layer 1 VPN subscriber at a time. 
     
     
         28 . The communication network of  claim 11 , wherein the allocation of Layer 1 VPN resources by the network nodes is performed by a control function at the network nodes. 
     
     
         29 . The communication network of  claim 11 , wherein the assignment information comprises information associating subnetwork point pool (SNPP) links with Layer 1 VPNs. 
     
     
         30 . The communication network of  claim 29 , wherein Layer 1 VPN resources are allocated by associating connection points (CPs) to create link connections.