Granted Patent B2

US 7,362,774 · App. 10/737,903 · Granted Apr 22, 2008

Abstract

Claims (17)

1. Label distribution method for distributing a label between a first Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 1 ) and a second peering Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 2 ) in a Multiprotocol Label Switching network (MPLSN), said label identifying a context of a single flow of data-packets, forwarded from said first Multiprotocol Label Switching network elements (PE 1 ) towards said second peering Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 2 ), said method comprising:

causing said first Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 1 ) to add an unused label to a first data-packet (DP 1 ), of said single flow before forwarding said single flow; said unused label not yet associated with or used for identifying a context of said single flow;

causing said second Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 2 ), to determine a context of said single flow of data-packets by applying a predetermined algorithm if a label in said first packet of said single flow is said unused label; and

causing said second Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 2 ) to couple said unused label and said context, determined by applying said predetermined algorithm.

2. Label distribution method according to claim 1 , wherein said method further comprises the step of causing said first Provider Edge Device (PE 1 ) to memorize a coupling between an origin of said first data-packet (DP 1 ) of said single flow of data-packets and said unused label.

3. First Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 1 ) for use in a Multiprotocol Label Switching network (MPLSN), wherein a label is distributed between said first Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 1 ) and a second peering Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 2 ) in said Multiprotocol Label Switching network (MPLSN), said label identifying a context of a single flow of data-packets, forwarded from said first Multiprotocol Label Switching network elements (PE 1 ) towards said second peering Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 2 ), said first Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 1 ) comprising:

a. a forwarding part (FOR 1 ), adapted to forward said single flow of data-packets from said first Multiprotocol Label Switching Network element (PE 1 ) towards said second Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 1 ), CHARACTERISED IN THAT said first Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 1 ) comprises a label assigning part (LABA), coupled with an output to an input of said forwarding part (FOR 1 ) and adapted to assign an unused label to each data-packet of said single flow of data-packets; said unused label not yet associated with or used for identifying a context of said single flow.

4. First Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 1 ) according to claim 3 wherein, said First Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 1 ) comprises a memorizing part (TABLE 1 ), adapted to memorise a coupling between an origin of said first data-packet DP 1 of said single flow of data-packets and said unused label.

5. Second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) for use in a Multiprotocol Label Switching network (MPLSN), wherein a label is distributed between a first Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 1 ) and said second peering Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 1 ) in said Multiprotocol Label Switching network (MPLSN), said label identifying a context of a single flow of data-packets, forwarded from said first Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 1 ) towards said second peering Multiprotocol Label Switching network element (PE 1 ), said second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) comprising the following parts:

a reception part (REC 2 ) adapted to receive data-packets of said single flow of data-packets; and

a label retrieving part (LRET), coupled with an output to an input of said reception part (REC 2 ) and adapted to retrieve from at least said first data-packet (DP 1 ) of said single flow of data-packets an unused label included therein, said unused label not yet associated with or used for identifying a context of said single flow; wherein said Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 1 ) further comprises:

a context determining part (CDET), coupled with an output to an input of said reception part (REC 2 ) and adapted to determine a context of said single flow of data-packets by applying a predetermined algorithm if a label in said first packet of said single flow is said unused label; and

a holding part (TABLE), coupled with an input to an output of both said label retrieving part (LRET) context determining part (CDET) and adapted to hold a coupling of said unused label and said context determined by applying said predetermined algorithm.

6. Second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) according to claim 5 , CHARACTERISED IN THAT said predetermined algorithm is adapted to randomly assign an output of said Second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) to said context.

7. Second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) according to claim 5 , CHARACTERISED IN THAT said predetermined algorithm is adapted to assign an unused output of said Second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) having the lowest interface-identifier to said context.

8. Second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) according to claim 5 , CHARACTERISED IN THAT said predetermined algorithm is adapted to assign an unused output of said Second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) by using User-to-Network-Interface Protocol to said context.

9. Label distribution method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined algorithm is implemented by randomly assigning an output of said Second Multiprotocol Label Switching Network Element (PE 2 ) to said context.

Assignments (8)