Distribution of label switched packets
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- receiving packets associated with a common label switched path (LSP);
reading a first label of each packet;
accessing label data that associates ranges of labels with different types of communication protocols, wherein the label data includes at least one predefined range defining that a packet is a multi-label packet having a plurality of labels;
determining whether each of the packets has multiple labels when the first label is within the predefined range; and
distributing the packets across multiple paths based on the determination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are described for distribution of label switched packets, such as multiprotocol label switched (MPLS) packets, across multiple physical data paths. The techniques may, for example, be used to load balance the label switched packets across an aggregated link having two or more logically associated physical interconnects. A network device, for example, includes an interface card to receive packets associated with a common label switched path (LSP), and a control unit to distribute the packets across multiple paths. The network device may include label data that maps ranges of labels, such as MPLS labels, to types of payloads carried by the label switched packets. In accordance with the label data, the control unit extracts flow information from the label switched packets and distributes the label switched packets across the paths based on the flow information. The control unit may generate hash values from the flow information, the labels, or combinations thereof, to control distribution of the label switched packets.
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Citations
44 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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receiving packets associated with a common label switched path (LSP); reading a first label of each packet; accessing label data that associates ranges of labels with different types of communication protocols, wherein the label data includes at least one predefined range defining that a packet is a multi-label packet having a plurality of labels; determining whether each of the packets has multiple labels when the first label is within the predefined range; and distributing the packets across multiple paths based on the determination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method comprising:
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receiving a packet having a label in accordance with a label switching protocol; reading the first label of the packet; accessing label data that associates ranges of labels with different types of communication protocols, wherein the label data includes at least one predefined range defining that a packet is a multi-label packet having a plurality of labels; determining that the packet has multiple labels when the first label is within the predefined range; when the packet has a single label, extracting flow information from a payload of the packet based on the label and distributing the packet to one of a plurality of paths based on the extracted flow information; and when the first label is within the predetermined range, distributing the packet to one of a plurality of paths based on the multiple labels without regard to the payload of the packet. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method comprising:
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receiving a data unit from a network device; determining a type of communication protocol for the data unit; accessing label data that associates ranges of labels with different types of communication protocols, wherein the label data includes at least one predefined range to indicate that a data unit has a plurality of labels; selecting a label based on the type of communication protocol and whether the data unit has multiple labels; pre-pending the selected label to the data unit to form a label switched packet in accordance with a label switching protocol; and forwarding the packet along a label switched path in accordance with the label. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A network device comprising:
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a computer-readable medium storing label data that associates ranges of labels with different types of communication protocols, wherein the label data includes at least one predefined range defining that a packet is a multi-label packet having a plurality of labels; an interface card to receive packets associated with a common label switched path (LSP); and a control unit to distribute the packets across multiple paths, wherein the control unit reads a first label of each of the packets and determines whether each of the packets has multiple labels when the first label is within the predefined range. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that cause a processor to:
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receive packets associated with a common label switched path (LSP); access label data that associates ranges of labels with different types of communication protocols, wherein the label data includes at least one predefined range defining that a packet is a multi-label packet having a plurality of labels; read a first label of each packet; determine that a packet has multiple labels when the first label is within the predefined range; and distribute the packets across multiple paths. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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- 41. A computer-readable storage medium comprising label data that associate ranges of labels with types of payloads of label switched packets, wherein the data defines a first label range to indicates that a label switched packet include a plurality of labels, and wherein the first label range directs a router to control distribution of the label switched packets across multiple physical data paths by application of a hash function to the multiple labels without regard of the payloads of the label switched packets.
Specification