Path determination in a data network
First Claim
1. A method for determining a new path through a data network that accounts for priority levels associated with established paths in the data network, wherein the paths are Label Switched Paths (LSPs) established using Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), comprising:
- determining data network link attributes provided by various label switched routers in the data network;
storing the determined link attributes in a database;
determining a highest priority level on which preemption will occur to establish a new LSP;
determining a bandwidth that will be preempted by the new LSP;
determining a total bandwidth that will be preempted on all priority levels by the new LSP and the unreserved bandwidth at a lowest priority level; and
making a new LSP selection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A path through a data network is calculated that accounts for priority levels of already-established paths. Potential new paths are determined taking into account priority level information associated with data network links. Of the determined paths, the path selected is preferably one having the least pre-emptive effect on lower priority traffic. The bandwidth reservation information for each data network link is determined along with the maximum bandwidth of each link and the available bandwidth at each priority level. Links with insufficient resources are eliminated from consideration. For the remaining candidate paths, determination for each link are make: which lower priority levels will be affected by the setup of the new path, how much reserved bandwidth will be pre-empted at each priority level, and how much free bandwidth is available at the lowers priority level. A path is selected that reduces or preferably minimizes some aspect of pre-emption.
150 Citations
65 Claims
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1. A method for determining a new path through a data network that accounts for priority levels associated with established paths in the data network, wherein the paths are Label Switched Paths (LSPs) established using Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), comprising:
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determining data network link attributes provided by various label switched routers in the data network;
storing the determined link attributes in a database;
determining a highest priority level on which preemption will occur to establish a new LSP;
determining a bandwidth that will be preempted by the new LSP;
determining a total bandwidth that will be preempted on all priority levels by the new LSP and the unreserved bandwidth at a lowest priority level; and
making a new LSP selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for selecting a new path through a data network that accounts for preemption of an established path in the data network by the new path, wherein the paths are Label Switched Paths (LSPs) established using Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), comprising:
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determining data network link attributes provided by various label switched routers in the data network;
storing the determined link attributes in a database;
determining a highest priority level on which preemption will occur to establish a new LSP;
determining a bandwidth that will be preempted by the new LSP; and
determining a total bandwidth that will be preempted on all priority levels by the new LSP and the unreserved bandwidth at a lowest priority level; and
selecting the new LSP. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for selecting a new path through a data network that reduces or minimizes a preemptive effect on one or more established paths in the data network by the new path, wherein the paths are Label Switched Paths (LSPs) established using Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), comprising:
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determining data network link attributes provided by various label switched routers in the data network;
storing the determined link attributes in a database;
determining a hiahest priority level on which preemption will occur to establish a new LSP;
determining a bandwidth that will be preempted by the new LSP;
determining a total bandwidth that will be preempted on all priority levels by the LSP and the unreserved bandwidth at a lowest priority level; and
making a new LSP selection. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. Apparatus for determining a new path through a data network comprising:
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a database for storing attributes for links in the data network including priority level information associated with the data network links, and data processing circuitry coupled to the database and configured to determine the new path taking into account the priority level information associated with the data network links stored in the database;
wherein the paths are Label Switched Paths (LSPs) established using Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) and the database stores link attributes from various label switched routers in the data network, and wherein the data processing circuitry is configured to;
determine a highest priority level on which preemption will occur in establishing a new LSP;
determine a bandwidth that will be preempted by the new LSP;
determine a total bandwidth that will be preempted on all priority levels by the new LSP and the unreserved bandwidth at a lowest priority level; and
make a new LSP selection. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A router for use in a data communications network, comprising:
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path selection circuitry configured to determine a new path through the data network taking into account preemption information associated with data network links stored in the database;
data packet forwarding circuitry configured to forward data packets on established paths and a database coupled to the oath selection circuitry for storing attributes for data network links, wherein the paths are Label Switched Paths (LSPs) established using Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), wherein link attributes from various label switched routers in the data network are stored in the database, and wherein the path selection circuitry is configured to;
determine a highest priority level on which preemption will occur in establishing a new LSP;
determine a bandwidth that will be preempted by the new LSP;
determine a total bandwidth that will be preempted on all priority levels by the new LSP and the unreserved bandwidth at a lowest priority level; and
select a new LSP. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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59. A Label Switched Router (LSR), comprising:
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means for storing attributes of links in a data network;
means for selecting a new path through a data network that minimizes a preemptive effect on one or more established paths in the data network by the new path; and
means for forwarding data packets on established paths, wherein the oaths are Label Switched Paths (LSPs) established using Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), link attributes from various label switched routers in the data network are stored in the means for storing, and wherein means for selecting includes;
means for determining a highest priority level on which preemption establishing a new LSP;
means for determining a bandwidth that will be preempted by the new LSP;
means for determining a total bandwidth that will be preempted on all priority levels by the new LSP and the unreserved bandwidth at a lowest priority level; and
means for selecting the new LSP. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification