Protection/restoration of MPLS networks
View Patent ↗In a multi-protocol label system (MPLS) carrying data, a working path carries data from a starting point or node to a destination point or node via a working path. The working path includes the switches and physical media linking starting point and the destination point. MPLS system reliability is enhanced by way of a protection path, over which data can be carried from the starting point to the destination point upon a detected failure along the working path. Upstream messages inform one or more MPLS switching systems to make a switchover from a working path to a protection path.
1. A multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) system protection switch comprising:
a first data input port into which MPLS data is received from a data source;
a first data output port from which MPLS data is sent to a second MPLS switching system comprising an MPLS working path;
a second data output port from which MPLS data is sent to a third MPLS switching system comprising an MPLS protection path; and
a second data input port adapted to connect to a path that follows the MPLS working path for receiving a failure notification associated with a failure;
whereby data received at the data input port from the data source can be selectively routed from the second MPLS switching system to the third MPLS switching system by a node at an origin of both the MPLS working path and the MPLS protection path and upstream to the failure.
2. The MPLS switching system of claim 1 further comprising a control input port where protection path failure messages are received from at least one of the second MPLS switching system and the third MPLS switching system.
3. A multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) system comprising:
a first MPLS protection switch having a data input port into which MPLS data is received from a data source;
a second MPLS switching system coupled to the first MPLS protection switch via a first data path carrying MPLS data, the first data path comprising an MPLS working path;
a third MPLS switching system coupled to the first MPLS protection switch via a second data path capable of carrying MPLS data, the second data path comprising an MPLS protection path;
an upstream reverse notification tree (RNT) data path that follows the MPLS working path and extends at least between the second MPLS switching system to the first MPLS protection switch, that upon a failure can carry a failure notification by which in response to the failure a switchover from the MPLS working path to the MPLS protection path, by a node at an origin of the MPLS working path and the MPLS protection path, can be initiated.
4. A method for MPLS protection switching from a MPLS working path to a MPLS protection path comprising:
transmitting a failure notification associated with a failure to a protection switch node along a path that follows the MPLS working path; and
routing data at the protection switch node from the MPLS working path to the MPLS protection path upon receipt of the failure notification, wherein the protection switch node is at an origin of the MPLS working path and the MPLS protection path and the protection switch node is upstream to the failure.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the failure notification is transmitted in a direction reverse to the MPLS working path.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the path that follows the MPLS working path mirrors the MPLS working path.
7. The method of claim 4 , further comprising detecting a failure.
8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the failure notification is transmitted by a node upstream to the failure.
9. The method of Claim 4 , wherein the failure is an uplink failure and is detected by a node upstream to the failure.
10. The method of claim 4 , wherein the failure is a downlink failure and is detected by a node downlink to the failure.
11. The method of claim 4 , wherein the failure is a bi-directional failure and is detected by a pair of nodes downlink and uplink to the failure.
12. The method of claim 4 , wherein the failure is a node failure and is detected by a pair of nodes downlink and uplink to the failure.
13. An apparatus for MPLS protection switching from a MPLS working path to a MPLS protection path comprising:
a failure notification relay mechanism adapted to transmit a failure notification along at least one segment of a path that follows the MPLS working path, upon a failure along the MPLS working path; and
a protection switch adapted to switch traffic from the MPLS working path to the MPLS protection path upon receiving the failure notification, wherein the protection switch is at an origin of the MPLS working and protection paths.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising a failure detection mechanism adapted to detect the failure and transmit the failure notification along the at least one segment of the path that follows the MPLS working path.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the failure detection mechanism is at a node upstream to the failure.
16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the failure is an uplink failure and the failure detection mechanism is at a node upstream to the failure.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the failure is a downlink failure and the failure detection mechanism is at a node downlink to the failure.
18. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the failure is a bi-directional failure and the failure detection mechanism is at a pair of nodes downlink and uplink to the failure.
19. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the failure is a node failure and the failure detection mechanism is at a pair of nodes downlink and uplink to the failure.
20. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the failure notification relay mechanism is adapted to allow the transmission of the failure notification in a reverse direction of the MPLS working path.
21. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the path that follows the MPLS working path mirrors the MPLS working path.