Micro-flow label switching
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A method for providing an aggregate micro-flow, comprising the operations of:
- defining a set of label switched paths;
defining a micro-flow comprising a set of data packets, the micro-flow having a quality of service type;
selecting a particular label switched path from the defined set of label switched paths based on the quality of service type of the micro-flow; and
transmitting the micro-flow along the selected label switched path;
the micro-flow having an associated forwarding equivalence class, the forwarding equivalence class defining additional transmission constraints for the micro-flow.
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Abstract
An invention is provided for affording an aggregate micro-flow having intelligent load balancing. Initially, a set of label switched paths (LSPs) is defined for a network domain. Then, as the network receives a set of data packets, a micro-flow comprising the set of data packets is defined. In addition to the information included in each received data packet, the micro-flow includes a quality of service (QoS) type. A particular label switched path (LSP) is selected from the defined set of LSPs, based on the QoS type of the micro-flow, and the micro-flow is transmitted along the selected LSP.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for providing an aggregate micro-flow, comprising the operations of:
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defining a set of label switched paths; defining a micro-flow comprising a set of data packets, the micro-flow having a quality of service type; selecting a particular label switched path from the defined set of label switched paths based on the quality of service type of the micro-flow; and transmitting the micro-flow along the selected label switched path;
the micro-flow having an associated forwarding equivalence class, the forwarding equivalence class defining additional transmission constraints for the micro-flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A micro-flow wrapper logical unit, comprising:
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a predefined label switched path, the label switched path adapted to define a physical path along a set of network switches for transmission of a network data packet, the label switched path capable of supporting a first quality of service type for data packets transmitted along the label switched path; and a micro-flow comprising a plurality of data packets transmitted along the predefined label switched path, the micro-flow having a second quality of service type, wherein the first quality of service type is not a lower quality of service than the second quality of service type; and wherein the micro-flow has an associated forwarding equivalence class, the forwarding equivalence class defining additional transmission constraints for the micro-flow. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A network switch for routing a micro-flow, comprising:
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a database including a predefined a set of label switched paths; an internal routing fabric capable of internally routing a micro-flow, wherein the micro-flow comprises a set of data packets, and wherein the micro-flow has a quality of service type; logic that selects a particular label switched path from the defined set of label switched paths included in the database, the particular label switched path being selected based on the quality of service type of the micro-flow; and an egress line card capable of transmitting the micro-flow along the selected label switched path; and wherein the micro-flow has an associated forwarding equivalence class, the forwarding equivalence class defining additional transmission constraints for the micro-flow. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for transmitting a data flow over a network connection, comprising the operations of:
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receiving a first aggregate flow comprising a plurality of individual data flows at an ingress line card, each individual data flow comprising a plurality of data packets; separating the first aggregate flow into a plurality of individual micro-flows at the ingress line card, each individual micro-flow comprising a data flow; routing the micro-flows to an egress line card, the egress line card being selected based on a quality of service of each individual micro-flow; assembling the plurality of individual micro-flows into a second aggregate flow having a quality of service capable of supporting the quality of service of the plurality of micro-flows, the assembling being performed at the egress line card; and transmitting the second aggregate flow over the network connection. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A method for efficiently transmitting an aggregate micro-flow over a selected label switch path based on active analysis of quality of service parameters for a set of label switched paths, each label switched path having a dynamically changing quality of service, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a data-flow including a set of data packets; (b) forming a micro-flow from the data-flow, the micro-flow having a quality of service type that includes transmission rate information; (c) at a particular time, determining the quality of service supportable each of the label switched paths; (d) selecting a particular label switched path from the defined set of label switched paths based on the quality of service type of the micro-flow, wherein the quality of service supportable by the particular label switched path is not less than quality of service type of the micro-flow; (e) transmitting the micro-flow along the selected label switched path; and (f) repeating (a)–
(e) for any additional received data-flows.
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29. A method for transmitting a received multiple label switched path-based an aggregate micro-flow over a selected label switch path based on active analysis of quality of service parameters for a set of label switched paths, each label switched path having a dynamically changing quality of service, the method comprising:
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(a) receiving a data-flow including a set of data packets; (b) forming a micro-flow from the data-flow, the micro-flow having a quality of service type that includes transmission rate information; (c) at a particular time, determining the quality of service supportable each of the label switched paths; (d) selecting a particular label switched path from the defined set of label switched paths based on the quality of service type of the micro-flow, wherein the quality of service supportable by the particular label switched path is not less than quality of service type of the micro-flow; (e) transmitting the micro-flow along the selected label switched path; and (f) repeating (a)–
(e) for any additional received data-flows.
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Specification