Label switched traffic routing and signaling in a label switched communication packet network

1. A method of routing traffic in a label switched packet network in which label switched paths (LSPs) are installed between nodes of the network, the method comprising defining and installing partial routes in the network, each partial route comprising at least two LSPs with a pre-installed cross-connection in a node at each end of the at least two LSPs such that an end-to-end route across the network can be defined as the concatenation of two of said partial routes.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said network is partitioned into a plurality of autonomous system regions.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the partial routes are selected based on congestion measurements.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said LSPs and partial routes are installed via a common open policy service protocol.

5. A method of operating a multi-protocol label switched packet network, the method comprising partitioning the network by using constraint based routing to install label switched paths (LSPs) between nodes of the network; defining and installing partial routes in the network, each partial route comprising at least two LSPs with a pre-installed cross-connection in a node at each end of the at least two LSPs; wherein a label stack installed at an edge of the network acts as a source route such that the pre-installed cross connections enable dynamic multiplexing of sessions into the LSPs at a higher label level.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the partial routes are selected based on congestion measurements.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said partial routes include cross connections in label switching nodes.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said LSPs and partial routes are installed via a common open policy service protocol.

9. A method as claimed in claim 5 , and embodied as software in machine readable form on a storage medium.

10. A method of signalling to provide routing in a multi-protocol label switched packet network, the method comprising; sending a path message from an end point to a first virtual router; determining a first half path from the first virtual router across the network towards a second virtual router; forwarding an identity of said first half path to the second virtual router; determining a second half path across the network which together with the first half path defines a path across the network between the first and second virtual routers; determining a routing vector for said path across the network; and returning information identifying said routing vector to the first virtual router, wherein each of said half paths comprises a partial route installed in the network, each partial route comprising at least two label switched paths (LSPs) with a pre-installed cross-connection in a node at each end of the at least two LSPs.

11. A method of signalling to establish an end to end path in a multi-protocol label switched packet network, the method comprising sending a path message from an end point to a first virtual router; encapsulating the path message within a resource reservation protocol (RSVP) message and transmitting the RSVP message to a second virtual router, said path information being carried within a RSVP policy element in said RSVP message; determining a second half path across the network towards the second virtual router; determining routing vector information for said second half path; communicating said vector information to the first virtual router; determining a first half path which together with the second half path defines a path across the network between the first and second virtual routers; wherein each of said half paths comprises a partial route installed in the network, each partial route comprising at least two label switched paths (LSPs) with a pre-installed cross-connection in a node at each end of the at least two LSPs.

12. A label switched communications packet network in which label switched paths (LSPs) are installed between nodes of the network, the network including path selection means for defining and installing partial routes in the network, each partial route comprising at least two LSPs with a pre-installed cross-connection in a node at each end of the at least two LSPs such that an end-to-end route across the network can be defined as the concatenation of two of said partial routes.

13. A packet network as claimed in claim 12 , wherein said network is partitioned into a plurality of autonomous system regions.

14. A packet network as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the partial routes are selected based on congestion measurements.

15. A packet network as claimed in claim 14 , wherein said partial routes include cross connections in label switching nodes.

16. A packet network as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said LSPs and partial routes are installed via a common open policy service protocol.

17. A packet network as claimed in claim 16 , and incorporating signalling means for sending path reservation requests as tunnelled resource reservation protocol (RSVP) messages between first and second virtual routers.

18. A virtual router embodied as software in machine readable form on a storage medium and arranged to route traffic in a packet network in which label switched paths are installed between nodes of the network, the software being arranged to define and install partial routes in the network, each partial route comprising at least two LSPs with a pre-installed cross-connection in a node at each end of the at least two LSPs such that an end-to-end route across the network can be defined as the concatenation of two of said partial routes.