Label switched packet transfer device
A device for connecting base station(s) to a cellular label switched network in a cellular network. The cellular network includes: base station(s), the connecting device(s); cellular label switched network(s); and service area(s). The base station(s) communicates with mobile terminals using wireless technology. The wireless technology uses a protocol layer architecture that includes at least one of the following: a wireless physical layer; a wireless medium access control protocol layer; a radio link control layer; and a network layer. The connecting device(s) include: a first interface to connect to the base station(s); a second interface to connect to cellular label switched network(s); and a label forwarding layer that: forwards packets between base station(s) and cellular label switched network(s); attaches label(s) to packets and removes label(s) from packets. A service area divided into a multitude of cells through which mobile terminals can move through and communicate with base station(s).
1. A network node that is configured to forward packets between a label switching node and a base station in a cellular network, the network node comprising:
a label switching component that is configured to:
receive a first network packet from the base station, wherein the base station is associated with a cell site;
attach a first label to the first network packet, wherein the first label corresponds to a first label switched path; and
enable communications of the first network packet with the attached first label to the label switching node.
2. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the label switching component is further configured to:
receive a second network packet from the label switching node with a second label that corresponds to a second label switched path;
remove the second label from the second network packet; and
upon removing the second label, enable communications of the second network packet to the base station.
3. The network node of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first network packet and the second network packet includes an IP (Internet Protocol) packet.
4. The network node of claim 3 , wherein the IP packet includes a header section and a payload section, and wherein the header section includes at least one of a source address or a destination address.
5. The network node of claim 2 , wherein the network node is coupled to a radio component that is located at the cell site and configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile wireless terminal over a radio link, wherein the radio component comprises:
a receiving radio component operable to:
receive one or more radio link frames from the mobile wireless terminal,
assemble the one or more radio link frames into the first network packet, and
enable communications of the first network packet to the label switching component; and
a transmitting radio component operable to:
receive the second network packet from the label switching component,
segment the second network packet into one or more radio link frames, and
enable communications of the one or more radio link frames associated with the second network packet to the mobile wireless terminal.
6. The network node of claim 5 , wherein the label switching component is co-located with the radio component.
7. The network node of claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first network packet or the second network packet is associated with a medium access control layer.
8. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the label switched path is associated with a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network.
9. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the network node is associated with a cell site gateway.
10. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the network node is included in the base station.
11. The network node of claim 1 , wherein the label switching node is associated with a backbone network.
12. A system comprising:
a label switching node;
a base station in a cellular network; and
a network node that is configured to forward packets between the label switching node and the base station, the network node comprising a label switching component that is configured to:
receive a first network packet from the base station, wherein the base station is associated with a cell site;
attach a first label to the first network packet, wherein the first label corresponds to a first label switched path; and
enable communications of the first network packet with the attached first label to the label switching node.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the label switching component is further configured to:
receive a second network packet from the label switching node with a second label that corresponds to a second label switched path;
remove the second label from the second network packet; and
upon removing the second label, enable communications of the second network packet to the base station.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first network packet or the second network packet includes an IP (Internet Protocol) packet.
15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the IP packet includes a header section and a payload section, and wherein the header section includes at least one of a source address or a destination address.
16. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a radio component that is located at the cell site and configured to communicate wirelessly with a mobile wireless terminal over a radio link, wherein the radio component is coupled to the network node, and wherein the radio component comprises:
a receiving radio component operable to:
receive one or more radio link frames from the mobile wireless terminal,
assemble the one or more radio link frames into the first network packet, and
enable communications of the first network packet to the label switching component; and
a transmitting radio component operable to:
receive the second network packet from the label switching component,
segment the second network packet into one or more radio link frames, and
enable communications of the one or more radio link frames associated with the second network packet to the mobile wireless terminal.
17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the label switching component is co-located with the radio component.
18. The system of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first network packet or the second network packet is associated with a medium access control layer.
19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the label switched path is associated with a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network.
20. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network node is associated with a cell site gateway.
21. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network node is included in the base station.
22. The system of claim 12 , wherein the label switching node is associated with a backbone network.