Method and system for allocating and controlling labels in multi-protocol label switched networks
US7120165B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 10, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 16, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0077
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for allocating and controlling a hierarchy of labels in an MPLS network is provided. The hierarchy of labels, inserted into MPLS packets, is introduced so as to correspond to the hierarchy of sub-flows within a data flow. The labels have the established dependency so that positions of labels in the hierarchy identify a sequence of processing the labels and functions associated with the labels. The system for allocating and controlling the hierarchy of MPLS labels includes a first control plane mapper for releasing available labels, a first controller for assigning the released labels according to the hierarchy, means for transmitting the labels in the network, a second controller for detecting the labels, and a second control plane mapper for maintaining current label dependency within the hierarchy. If required, re-addressing of the hierarchy of labels may be performed to maintain flow-sub-flow association throughout two adjacent networks. In the preferred embodiments on the invention the method of allocating and controlling hierarchy of labels is applied to sub-flows within FA-LSP flows, and to multi-cast services in the network associated with a function of f…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.