Cross-connect using ethernet multiplexors for a simple metro ethernet network

Abstract

A metro area network is provided that includes edge and core multiplexors each having a plurality of line ports and one or more uplink ports, a transport network carrying multiplexed traffic between the edge and core multiplexors. In a hard cross connect implementation utilizing source port tagging, a cross-connect device coupled to the core multiplexors provisions or maps communications path between the core multiplexors thereby providing preselected connectivity/mapping of two or more line ports of any of the edge multiplexors. In a soft cross connect implementation utilizing destination port tagging, a cross-connect device includes additional cross-connect multiplexors and functionality to control the destination port tagging performed in the edge, core and cross connect multiplexors thereby provisioning or mapping the desired communications path(s) between various endpoints.

1 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A communication network comprising:
 a plurality of edge multiplexors, each edge multiplexor having a respective uplink port and a respective plurality of line ports for coupling to a respective plurality of end devices;   a transport network coupled to each of the respective uplink ports, the transport network being configured to carry data packets generated by the plurality of end devices;   a plurality of core multiplexors, each core multiplexor having a respective uplink port and a respective plurality of line ports, the respective plurality of line ports having a one-to-one line port correspondence with a corresponding one of the plurality of edge multiplexors; and   a cross-connect coupled to at least two line ports of the plurality of line ports of the core multiplexors to provide a communication path between the at least two line ports of the core multiplexors thereby providing a communication path between at least two line ports of the plurality of line ports of the edge multiplexors.   
     
     
         7 . The communication network of  claim 6 , wherein the cross-connect is implemented in a one of:
 a hard cross-connection implementation; and   a soft cross-connection implementation.   
     
     
         8 . The communication network of  claim 6 , wherein the cross-connect is configured to:
 receive an untagged first data packet from the first line port of the core multiplexors; and   tag the received untagged first data packet with an identifier uniquely identifying a port of the cross-connect; and   forward the tagged first data packet with the identifier toward a destination point.   
     
     
         9 . The communication network of  claim 8 , wherein the identifier identifies a next hop destination egress port of the cross-connect. 
     
     
         10 . The communication network of claim  1 , wherein the plurality of core multiplexors comprise:
 a first core multiplexor having a respective uplink port and a respective plurality of line ports, the first core multiplexor configured to:
 receive data packets at the respective plurality of line ports of the first core multiplexor, 
 tag the received data packets with an identifier uniquely identifying the line port receiving the data packet, 
 multiplex the tagged and received data packets into multiplexed data, and 
 transmit the multiplexed data on the respective uplink port of the first core multiplexor; and 
   a second core multiplexor having a respective uplink port and a respective plurality of line ports, the second core multiplexor configured:
 receive data packets at the respective plurality of line ports of the second core multiplexor; 
 tag the received data packets with an identifier uniquely identifying the line port receiving the data packet, 
 multiplex the tagged and received data packets into multiplexed data, and 
 transmit the multiplexed data on the respective uplink port of the second core multiplexor. 
   
     
     
         11 . The communication network of  claim 6 , wherein the transport network comprises a ring network. 
     
     
         12 . The communication network of  claim 11 , wherein the ring network comprises a wavelength division multiplexed optical ring network. 
     
     
         13 . A communication network comprising:
 a plurality of local communication networks as defined in claim  1 ; and   a regional cross-connect connected to a respective cross-connect of each local communication network via a regional transport network.   
     
     
         14 . A communication network comprising:
 a first plurality of local communication networks as defined in claim  1 ;   a first regional cross-connect connected to a respective cross-connect of each local communication network via a regional transport network;   a second plurality of local communication networks as defined in claim  1 ;   a second regional cross-connect connected to a respective cross-connect of each local communication network via a regional transport network; and   an inter-regional transport network connected between the first regional cross-connect and the second regional cross-connect.