Label switched communication network and system and method for path restoration
First Claim
1. A communication network including a first communication path having a plurality of switching routers, a second communication path having at least one communication path element different from said first communication path and extending from a selected one of said switching routers to a position on said first communication path located at a distance from said selected switching router of less than the length of said first communication path, wherein said selected switching router includes output means for outputting data with a label for routing data along one of said first and second communication paths, and routing means responsive to a fault in the transmission capability of said first communication path between said selected switching router and said position for routing data received by said selected switching router for transmission along said first communication path, along said second communication path.
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Abstract
A communication network is provided which includes a primary label switched path having a plurality of switching routers. The communication network includes a secondary label switched path which extends from a selected primary path switching router, bypasses a section of the primary path and rejoins the primary path at a position downstream of the selected switching router. The selected switching router is conditioned to re-route data intended for transmission on the primary path, onto the secondary communication path in response to a fault on the section of the primary path which is bypassed by the secondary path to restore data transmission.
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Citations
74 Claims
- 1. A communication network including a first communication path having a plurality of switching routers, a second communication path having at least one communication path element different from said first communication path and extending from a selected one of said switching routers to a position on said first communication path located at a distance from said selected switching router of less than the length of said first communication path, wherein said selected switching router includes output means for outputting data with a label for routing data along one of said first and second communication paths, and routing means responsive to a fault in the transmission capability of said first communication path between said selected switching router and said position for routing data received by said selected switching router for transmission along said first communication path, along said second communication path.
- 39. A method of conditioning a communication network to restore data transmission from a source node to a destination node in the event of a fault between an intermediate node and said destination node on a first communication path which includes said source node, said intermediate node and said destination node and defines a first label switched path originating at said source node and terminating at said destination node, the method comprising the steps of establishing a secondary label switched path, originating at said intermediate node, along a second communication path which bypasses said fault and re-joins said first communication path, and conditioning said intermediate node to direct data from said first label switched path to said second label switched path in response to a fault on said first communication path between said intermediate node and said destination node.
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49. A method of transmitting data specified for transmission on a first communication path between a source node and a destination node in response to a fault on said first communication path, comprising
labelling said data with a label associated with a second communication path which adjoins said first communication path at first and second locations and which bypasses said fault, the distance between said first and second locations being less than the length of said first communication path, and outputting said labelled data onto said second communication path.
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56. A method of evaluating a node for re-directing data from a first communication path, having a source node and a destination node, along a second communication path, along a second communication path, comprising the steps of:
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selecting a test node on said first communication path between said source node and said destination node and said destination node, selecting a test node on said second communication path, determining the value of a parameter of a test path between said test nodes, and evaluating the test node on said first path for re-directing data to said second path based on the determined value of said parameter. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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- 73. A method of selecting an alternative path for carrying data intended for transmission along a communication path between the source node and a destination node, comprising selecting a plurality of alternate paths connected between an intermediate node of said communication path and said destination node, and selecting from said plurality of alternate paths, the path which shares the minimum number of links with said communication path between said intermediate node and said destination node.
Specification