Smart ethernet mesh edge device

Abstract

A system is provided for making connections in a telecommunications system that includes a network for transporting communications between selected subscriber connections, and a wireless network for coupling connections to the network. The network and wireless network are interfaced with a traffic management element and at least one radio controller shared by connections, with the traffic management element and the radio controller forming a single integrated network element. Connections are routed from the wireless network to the network via the single integrated network element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from the following description of preferred embodiments together with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating existing network architecture with separate WiMAX base station and routers.

FIG. 2 illustrates an integrated network element containing a WiMAX base station with an Ethernet switch networked and managed with a VMS

FIG. 3 illustrates one implementation for performing the switching in the WiMAX switch in the integrated network element of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a logical view of the traffic management bloc.

FIG. 5 illustrates a radio impairment detection mechanism.

FIG. 6 illustrates one implementation of an algorithm that detects radio impairments.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system including both ethernet and high-bandwidth wireless sub-systems, comprising a network element including one or more radio controller each transmitting on a wireless trunk directly controlled by the network element, anda switch for connecting each wireless trunk to any of multiple interfaces and other wireless trunks.

2. The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein said interfaces are ethernet, ATM, T1 or optical interfaces.

3. The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver is a WiMAX base station or subscriber station.

4. The telecommunications system of claim 1 wherein the connecting by said switch is connection-oriented label switching.

5. A telecommunications system comprising an network for transporting packets on a connection,a wireless network for coupling connections to said network, said wireless network including an network element comprising one or more radio controller each transmitting on a wireless trunk, and allocating a bandwidth each connection that accesses said wireless network, anda switch for routing each connection via said network, anda traffic engineering element that manages the connections on said network.

6. The telecommunications system of claim 5 wherein the switching by said switch is connection-oriented label switching.

7. A method of making connections in a telecommunications system that includes a network for transporting communications between selected subscriber connections, and a wireless network for coupling connections to said network, said method comprising interfacing said network and said wireless network with a traffic management element and at least one radio controller shared by connections, said traffic management element and said radio controller forming a single integrated network element, androuting connections from said wireless network to said network via said single integrated network element.

8. The method of claim 7 which includes conveying information relating to the status of said wireless network to said traffic engineering element to permit evaluation of performance changes in said wireless network and effecting corresponding adjustments of the transmission rate between said network and said wireless network.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said adjustments are effected to avoid losses in said communications transported between said network and said wireless network.

10. The method of claim 8 which includes buffering traffic before transporting it to said wireless network when the transmission speed in said wireless network is reduced.