Protection switching using performance metrics

Abstract

Technology disclosed herein includes a method to trigger protection switching on a wireless link of a network device comprised in a protection switching capable network. The method comprises monitoring one or more performance metrics on said link and sending a signal failed message when at least one metric of said one or more performance metrics fails to satisfy performance criteria related to the at least one metric of said one or more performance metrics

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method to trigger protection switching on a wireless link of a network device comprised in a protection switching capable network comprising:
 monitoring one or more performance metrics on said link;   sending a signal failed message when at least one metric of said one or more performance metrics fails to satisfy performance criteria related to the at least one metric of said one or more performance metrics.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising monitoring a link status and sending the signal failed message when the link status is failed. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the performance criteria comprises a threshold. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the one or more performance metrics comprises average delay, wherein the one metric fails to satisfy the criteria when the average delay exceeds the threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the one or more performance metrics comprises packet loss wherein the one metric fails to satisfy the criteria when the packet loss exceeds the threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the link comprises an Ethernet link. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising refraining from responding to continuity check messages when at least the one metric of said one or more performance metrics fails to satisfy performance criteria related to the at least one metric of said one or more performance metrics. 
     
     
         8 . A network device with one or more wireless links part of a network supporting protection switching comprising:
 one or more computer readable storage media;   program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media for triggering protection switching on a link with a degraded performance that, when executed by a processing system, direct the processing system to at least:   monitor one or more performance metrics on said wireless link;   send a signal failed message when at least one metric of said one or more performance metrics fails to satisfy performance criteria related to the at least one metric of said one or more performance metrics.   
     
     
         9 . The network device of  claim 8  further comprising the processing system that reads and executes the program instructions, wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to monitor a link status and send the signal failed message when the link status is failed. 
     
     
         10 . The network device of  claim 8  wherein the performance criteria comprises a threshold and wherein the one metric fails to satisfy the criteria when the one metric [insert choice here: falls below, exceeds, or meets the threshold]. 
     
     
         11 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the one or more performance metrics comprises average delay. 
     
     
         12 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the one or more performance metrics comprises packet loss. 
     
     
         13 . The network device of  claim 10  wherein the link comprises a wireless Ethernet link. 
     
     
         14 . The network device of  claim 8  wherein the program instructions further direct the processing system to refrain from responding to continuity check messages when at least the one metric of said one or more performance metrics fails to satisfy performance criteria related to the at least one metric of said one or more performance metrics.