Label switched communication network, a method of conditioning the network and a method of data transmission
First Claim
1. A method of path restoration in a communication network having a first switching router and a second switching router, first and second communication paths extending between said first and second switching routers, said second communication path including at least one communication path element different from said first communication path, the method comprising steps of:
- creating a first label switched path on said first communication path;
placing one or more data flows within said first label switched path;
creating a second label switched path on said second communication path;
associating said second label switched path with said first label switched path so as to identify said second label switched path as an alternative path for said first label switched path;
transferring knowledge of said one or more data flows within said first label switched path to said second label switched path; and
redirecting data flows destined for said first switched path to said second label switched path;
wherein said step of creating a second label switched path comprises said step of associating said second label switched path and further comprises a step of sending a set up signal to said second switching router, said set up signal having a extra data field identifying the first label switched path;
wherein the step of transferring knowledge further comprises transferring a soft state of each said one or more data flows; and
wherein each said first and second switching routers have an incoming label map for each said first and second label switched paths and the step of transferring knowledge comprises a step of copying entries from the incoming label map of said first label switched path to the incoming label map of said second label switched path.
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Abstract
A communication network is provided having source and destination switching routers connected by two different communication paths. A primary label switched path is established on one of the communication paths and a secondary label switched path is established on the other label switched path. The source switching router can be enabled to place one or more data flows within the primary label switched path and can be enabled to place one or more of the same data flows within the secondary label switched path. The destination switching router stores a label identifying each data flow and a forwarding instruction and can be enabled to reference data carried within the primary or secondary LSP with the appropriate data flow label.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of path restoration in a communication network having a first switching router and a second switching router, first and second communication paths extending between said first and second switching routers, said second communication path including at least one communication path element different from said first communication path, the method comprising steps of:
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creating a first label switched path on said first communication path; placing one or more data flows within said first label switched path; creating a second label switched path on said second communication path; associating said second label switched path with said first label switched path so as to identify said second label switched path as an alternative path for said first label switched path; transferring knowledge of said one or more data flows within said first label switched path to said second label switched path; and redirecting data flows destined for said first switched path to said second label switched path; wherein said step of creating a second label switched path comprises said step of associating said second label switched path and further comprises a step of sending a set up signal to said second switching router, said set up signal having a extra data field identifying the first label switched path; wherein the step of transferring knowledge further comprises transferring a soft state of each said one or more data flows; and wherein each said first and second switching routers have an incoming label map for each said first and second label switched paths and the step of transferring knowledge comprises a step of copying entries from the incoming label map of said first label switched path to the incoming label map of said second label switched path. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A router for routing data onto a network having a network node and first and second communication paths extending from said router to said network node, said second communication path including at least one communication path element different from said first communication path, said router comprising:
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first routing means for routing a first label switched path onto said first communication path; second routing means for routing a second label switched path onto said second communication path; set up means for setting up said first and second label switched paths; associating means for associating said second label switched path with said first label switched path so as to identify said second label switched path as an alternative path for said first label switched path; transferring means for transferring knowledge of said one or more data flows within said first label switched path to said second label switched path; and redirecting means for redirecting flows destined for said first switched path to said second label switched path; wherein said associating means is configured to associate said second label switched path with said first label switched path by sending in a set up signal for said second label switched path, an extra data field identifying said first label switched path; wherein the transferring means further comprises means for transferring a soft state of each said one or more data flows; and wherein each said first and second routing means have an incoming label map for each said first and second label switched paths and the transferring means comprises means for copying entries from the incoming label map of said first label switched path to the incoming label map of said second label switched path. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification