METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING IN SHORTEST PATH BRIDGED NETWORKS
First Claim
1. A method of diverting packets of information in a communications network between a first node and a second node from a first shortest path to a second path, the second path different from the first shortest path, the method comprising:
- associating a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (VID) with the second path in a first direction from the first node toward the second node;
associating a second VID with the second path in a second direction from the second node toward the first node, the second VID being different from the first VID; and
diverting packets from the first path to the link being a first hop on the second path when the packets have a Media Access Control (MAC) destination address of a location reachable via the first shortest path between the first node and the second node, andassigning the first VID to all packets transiting the link being the first hop in the first direction on the second path, and assigning the second VID to all packets transiting the link being the first hop in the second direction on the second path.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for diverting traffic in a communications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, the invention provides a communications network with a first node and a second node. Connecting these two nodes is a first set of intermediate nodes on a first path (the true shortest path) and a second set of intermediate nodes on a second alternate path. At a first node, a first processor determines whether a packet arriving at the first node must transit the second node. If so, the base virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (VID) of the packet is replaced by a first VID, and the packet is transmitted along the second path through the second set of intermediate nodes to the second node. At the second node, a second processor determines whether a packet arriving at the second node must transit the first node. If so, the base VID of the packet is replaced by a second VID different from the first VID and different from the base VID, and the packet is transmitted along the second path through the second set of intermediate nodes to the first node.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of diverting packets of information in a communications network between a first node and a second node from a first shortest path to a second path, the second path different from the first shortest path, the method comprising:
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associating a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (VID) with the second path in a first direction from the first node toward the second node; associating a second VID with the second path in a second direction from the second node toward the first node, the second VID being different from the first VID; and diverting packets from the first path to the link being a first hop on the second path when the packets have a Media Access Control (MAC) destination address of a location reachable via the first shortest path between the first node and the second node, and assigning the first VID to all packets transiting the link being the first hop in the first direction on the second path, and assigning the second VID to all packets transiting the link being the first hop in the second direction on the second path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A first node in a communications network, the first node capable to route traffic from an input port of the first node to one of a first output port and a second output port of the first node, the first node comprising:
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a memory, the memory storing a forwarding table, the forwarding table directing packets having a first Media Access Control (MAC) address to transit a second path via the second port, the directed packets being assigned a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (VID), the directed packets received at the first node initially having a base VID, the first VID being different from the base VID; and a processor in communication with the memory, the processor; inspecting a first MAC destination address in a header of a first packet received at the first node; determining that the inspected first MAC destination address is an address of a location reachable via the second port; diverting the first packet to the second port; and replacing the base VID of the packet with the first VID. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A communications network comprising:
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a first node; a second node; a first set of one or more intermediate nodes on a first path between the first and second nodes;
the first path being a shortest path between the first and second nodes, anda second set of one or more intermediate nodes on a second path between the first and second nodes; the first node having a first processor, the first processor; determining whether a first packet received at the first node must transit the second node to reach a destination; when the first packet must transit the second node, replacing a base virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier (VID) with a first VID in a header of the first packet; and transmitting the first packet to the second node along the second path through the second set of one or more intermediate nodes. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification