1. A method of establishing a tunneling Multi-Protocol Label Switched Path (LSP) between nodes in a multicast network, the method comprising:
receiving an instruction to establish a first path from a source node in a first multicast tree to a destination node in the first multicast tree, the first path including a connection between a branching node and a next hop branching node;
establishing an LSP extending from the branching node to the next hop branching node by performing the following steps:
determining a next hop toward the next hop branching node,
wherein the next hop is an intermediate node between the branching node and the next hop branching node,
sending an LSP path request to the next hop,
receiving the request at the next hop,
selecting an ingress label for the LSP at the next hop wherein the ingress label is selected by performing the following steps:
when a second LSP terminating at the next hop branching node and traveling through the next hop exists, selecting a previously assigned ingress label for the second LSP as the ingress label, and
when a second LSP terminating at the next hop branching node and traveling through the next hop does not exist, selecting an unused ingress label as the ingress label, and sending a reply from the next hop, the reply specifying the ingress label and the identification of the next hop branching node;
storing, at the branching node, tunneling information regarding the LSP, the tunneling information including an identification of the next hop branching node;
receiving an instruction to establish a second path from a source node in a second multicast tree to a destination node in the second multicast tree;
determining whether the second path shares the connection between the branching node and the next hop branching node using the identification of the next hop branching node included in the tunneling information; and
when it is determined that the second path shares the connection between the branching node and the next hop branching node, using the LSP as part of the second path, whereby forwarding states are shared between the first multicast tree and the second multicast tree.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the tunneling information stored at the branching node further comprises at least one of an ingress label, an egress label, and an output interface.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tunneling information stored at the branching node further comprises a path count field indicating the number of paths that share the connection from the branching node to the next hop branching node.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein, when it is determined that the second path shares the connection between the branching node and the next hop branching node, incrementing the path count field by one.
5. The method of claim 1, further comprising
upon receipt of a request to tear down a path including the connection from the branching node to the next hop branching node, determining the value of the path count field;
when it is determined that the path count field is greater than one, decrementing the path count field by one; and
when it is determined that the path count field is one, removing the tunneling information from the branching node.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
when it is determined that the second path shares the connection between the branching node and the next hop branching node, determining whether the connection is suitable for sharing prior to using the LSP as part of the second path.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining whether the connection is suitable for sharing comprises determining whether the first path and second path have similar or identical quality of service requirements.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the quality of service requirements are specified by a Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC).
9. A network element for establishing a tunneling Multi-Protocol Label Switched Path (LSP) between network elements in a multicast network, the network element comprising:
data storage containing tunneling information regarding LSPs used for routing of data by the network element; and
circuitry adapted to:
receive an instruction to establish a portion of a first path from a source node in a first multicast tree to a destination node in the first multicast tree, the first path including a connection between the network element and a next hop branching network element;
establish an LSP extending from the network element to the next hop branching network element, the circuitry being further adapted to:
determine a next hop network element toward the next hop branching network element, wherein the next hop network element is located between the network element and the next bop branching network element,
send an LSP path request to the next hop network element,
receive the request at the next hop network element,
select an ingress label for the LSP at the next hop network element, the circuitry being further adapted to:
when a second LSP terminating at the next hop branching node and traveling through the next hop exists, select a previously assigned ingress label for the second LSP as the ingress label, and
when a second LSP terminating at the next hop branching node and traveling through the next hop does not exist, select an unused ingress label as the ingress label, and
send a reply from the next hop network element, the reply specifying the ingress label and the identification of the next hop branching network element;
store an identification of the next hop branching network element in the tunneling information contained in the data storage;
receive an instruction to establish a portion of a second path from a source node in a second multicast tree to a destination node in the second multicast tree;
determine whether the second path shares the connection between the network element and the next hop branching network element using the identification of the next hop branching network element included in the tunneling information; and
when it is determined that the second path shares the connection between the network element and the next hop branching network element, use the LSP as part of the second path, whereby forwarding states are shared between the first multicast tree and the second multicast tree.
10. The network element of claim 9, wherein the tunneling information further comprises at least one of an ingress label, an egress label, and an output interface.
11. The network element of claim 9, wherein the tunneling information further comprises a path count field indicating the number of paths that share the connection from the network element to the next hop branching network element.
12. The network element of claim 11, wherein, when the circuitry determines that the second path shares the connection between the network element and the next hop branching network element, incrementing the path count field by one.
13. The network element of claim 9, wherein the circuitry is further adapted to:
upon receipt of a request to tear down a path including the connection from the network element to the next hop branching network element, determine the value of the path count field;
when it is determined that the path count field is greater than one, decrement the path count field by one; and
when it is determined that the path count field is one, remove the tunneling information from the network element.
14. The network element of claim 9, wherein the circuitry is further adapted to:
when it is determined that the second path shares the connection between the network element and the next hop branching network element, determine whether the connection is suitable for sharing prior to using the LSP as part of the second path.
15. The network element of claim 14, wherein the determination whether the connection is suitable for sharing comprises determining whether the first path and second path have similar or identical quality of service requirements.
16. The network element of claim 15, wherein the quality of service requirements are specified by a Forwarding Equivalence Class (FEC).
17. A method of establishing a tunneling Multi-Protocol Label Switched Path (LSP) between nodes in a multicast network, the method comprising:
establishing a plurality of LSPs by performing the steps of:
designating each router in the network as either an edge router (ER) or a core router (CR), and
establishing a LSP between a first ER and a subject router only when:
the subject router is either an ER or a CR having more than two outgoing links to routers in the multicast network, and
the subject router is on the shortest path between the first ER and a second ER; receiving an instruction to establish a first path from a source node in a first multicast tree to a destination node in the first multicast tree, the first path including a connection between a branching node and a next hop branching node;
storing, at the branching node, tunneling information regarding one of the plurality of LSPs, the tunneling information including an identification of the next hop branching node;
receiving an instruction to establish a second path from a source node in a second multicast tree to a destination node in the second multicast tree;
determining whether the second path shares the connection between the branching node and the next hop branching node using the identification of the next hop branching node included in the tunneling information; and
when it is determined that the second path shares the connection between the branching node and the next hop branching node, using the one of the plurality of LSPs as part of the second path, whereby forwarding states are shared between the first multicast tree and the second multicast tree.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of LSPs is established by a central network management device.
19. A system for establishing a tunneling Multi-Protocol Label Switched Path (LSP) between network elements in a multicast network, the system comprising:
a network management device adapted to establish a plurality of LSPs by executing instructions adapted to:
designate each router in the network as either an edge router (ER) or a core router (CR), and
establish an LSP between a first ER and a subject router only when:
the subject router is either an ER or a CR having more than two outgoing links to routers in the multicast network, and
the subject router is on the shortest path between the first ER and a second ER; and
a network node comprising:
data storage containing tunneling information regarding LSPs used for routing of data by the network element, and
circuitry adapted to:
receive an instruction to establish a portion of a first path from a source node in a first multicast tree to a destination node in the first multicast tree, the first path including a connection between the network element and a next hop branching network element,
select one of the plurality of LSPs extending from the network element to the next hop branching network element,
store an identification of the next hop branching network element in the tunneling information contained in the data storage,
receive an instruction to establish a portion of a second path from a source node in a second multicast tree to a destination node in the second multicast tree,
determine whether the second path shares the connection between the network element and the next hop branching network element using the identification of the next hop branching network element included in the tunneling information, and
when it is determined that the second path shares the connection between the network element and the next hop branching network element, use the one of the plurality of LSPs as part of the second path, whereby forwarding states are shared between the first multicast tree and the second multicast tree.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A power equipment test system for testing low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits comprising:
a computer for providing an operator interface for the power equipment test system; and
a test unit operable to perform the testing of the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits; wherein the test unit is physically connected to the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits and wirelessly connected to the computer such that the testing can be performed by an operator located remotely from the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits are resident within power equipment of an underground mine.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the test unit comprises:
at least one processor connected to at least one power meter to receive test data during testing, the at least one power meter operably connected to the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits to receive electrical input from the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits;
at least one wireless communication device for wirelessly connecting the at least one processor to the computer;
at least one storage device connected to the at least one processor, the at least one storage device storing test data and reports generated by the processor from the test data; and,
at least one interposing relay connected to at least one ground fault test relay or at least one ground monitor test relay.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein the test unit further comprises at least one data retrieval device operably connected to the at least one storage device to at least one of retrieve test data stored in the at least one storage device, retrieve test reports stored in the at least one storage device, generate test reports from retrieved test data stored in the at least one storage device, print test reports stored in the at least one storage device, and print test reports generated from test data stored in the at least one storage device.
5. An automated low and medium voltage circuit test device comprising:
at least one processor connected to at least one power meter to receive test data during testing, the at least one power meter operably connected to the low and medium voltage circuits to receive electrical input from the low and medium voltage circuits;
at least one wireless communication device for wirelessly connecting the at least one processor to an external computer;
at least one storage device connected to the at least one processor, the at least one storage device storing test data and reports generated by the processor from the test data;
at least one interposing relay connected to at least one ground fault test relay or at least one ground monitor test relay and further connected to the at least one processor; and,
at least one data retrieval device operably connected to the at least one storage device to at least one of retrieve test data stored in the at least one storage device, retrieve test reports stored in the at least one storage device, and generate test reports from retrieved test data stored in the at least one storage device;
wherein the at least one processor controls the testing based on input received from the external computer.
6. The device of claim 5 wherein the electrical input comprises voltage and current inputs; the low and medium voltage circuits comprise low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits; and the power meter is physically connected to the low and medium voltage circuits.
7. The device of claim 5 wherein the test data is stored remotely from the device.
8. The device of claim 5 wherein a report is generated remotely from the device using the stored test data and saved in file format for later retrieval.
9. A method for testing power equipment using a computer remotely located from the power equipment and wirelessly connected to a test unit physically connected to the power equipment, the method comprising:
providing a computer as an operator interface to a test unit operable to perform the testing of power equipment; physically connecting the test unit to the power equipment; and wirelessly connecting the test unit to the computer; whereby the testing can be performed by an operator located remotely from the test unit and the power equipment.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein the power equipment is resident with an underground mine and comprises low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein physically connecting the test unit to the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits comprises operably connecting at least one power meter of the test unit to the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits to receive electrical input from the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising
connecting at least one processor to the at least one power meter to receive test data from the power meter at the at least one processor during testing;
testing the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits;
receiving test data from the at least one power meter at the at least one processor during testing;
displaying the test data received at the at least one processor at the computer via the wireless connection between the computer and the test unit;
generating reports from the test data by the at least one processor; and,
storing the test data received at the at least one processor and the reports generated by the at least one processor in at least one storage device of the test unit.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein testing the low and medium voltage three phase AC circuits comprises actuating at least one interposing relay connected to at least one ground fault test relay or at least one ground monitor test relay.
14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
retrieving test data stored in the at least one storage device;
retrieving test reports stored in the at least one storage device;
generating test reports from retrieved test data stored in the at least one storage device;
printing test reports stored in the at least one storage device; and
printing test reports generated from test data stored in the at least one storage device,
whereby the retrieving test data, retrieving test reports, generating test reports, printing test reports stored in the at least one storage device, and printing test reports generated from test data are accomplished via at least one data retrieval device operably connected to the at least one storage device.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising storing test data and test reports in at least one storage device located remotely from the test unit and operably connected to the at least one data retrieval device.
16. The method of claim 9 wherein physically connecting the test unit to the power equipment comprises plugging an automated circuit tester into a receptacle on a panel of a power circuit to be tested; and wherein the testing of the power equipment comprises:
powering on the automated circuit tester by one of activating a power button, activating a power switch, and booting the automated circuit tester from a computer wirelessly connected to the automated circuit tester;
accessing a processor of the automated circuit tester from the computer wirelessly connected to the automated circuit tester;
initiating test sequences of a circuit breaker in the circuit being tested in both on and off position by the processor under one of program control and operator request from the computer;
receiving voltage and current readings from a power meter operably connected to the circuit under test at the processor for each test sequence;
transmitting the voltage and current readings for each test sequence from the automated circuit tester to the computer for display;
saving the voltage and current readings for each test sequence to at least one test data storage device;
initiating a ground monitor test sequence for the circuit being tested by the processor under one of program control and operator request from the computer;
receiving voltage and current readings from a power meter operably connected to the circuit under test at the processor for the ground monitor test sequence;
transmitting the voltage and current readings for the ground monitor test sequence from the automated circuit tester to the computer for display;
saving the voltage and current readings for the ground monitor test sequence to at least one test data storage device;
initiating one or more ground fault test sequences for the circuit being tested by the processor under one of program control and operator request from the computer;
receiving voltage and current readings from a power meter operably connected to the circuit under test at the processor for each of the one or more ground fault test sequences;
transmitting the voltage and current readings for each of the one or more ground fault test sequences from the automated circuit tester to the computer for display; and,
saving the voltage and current readings for each of the one or more ground fault test sequences to at least one test data storage device.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein the power equipment is mining equipment circuitry.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the mining equipment circuitry is low and medium voltage three phase AC circuitry.
19. The method of claim 16 wherein the at least one storage device is resident remotely from the test unit.
20. The method of claim 16 further comprising generating a report from the saved voltage and current readings remotely from the test unit.