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 method for transmitting packets in a network, the method comprising:
receiving, at a network node in a cell site in the network, a first packet from a base station associated with the cell site;
appending, by the network node, information to a header of the first packet, the information identifying a path through a backbone network, wherein appending information to the header of the first packet comprises attaching a first label to the first packet, the first label identifying a first label switched path through the backbone network; and
forwarding the first packet with the appended information to a switching node in the backbone network.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
examining, by the switching node, the first label; and
based on examining the first label, determining, by the switching node, a transmission path of the first packet along the first label switched path.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein identifying the first label switched path includes identifying a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based path.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a second packet from the switching node, the second packet including information appended to a header of the second packet that identifies a second path through the backbone network;
removing the information appended to the header of the second packet; and
upon removing the information, transmitting the second packet to the base station.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the information appended to the header of the second packet includes a second label attached to the second packet, and wherein the second path includes a second label switched path through the backbone network.
6. The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one of the first packet or the second packet includes an IP (Internet Protocol) packet.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the IP packet includes a header section, the header section including at least one of a source address or a destination address.
8. The method of claim 4 , 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, the method comprising:
receiving, using the radio component, one or more radio link frames from the mobile wireless terminal; and
assembling the one or more radio link frames into the first packet.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving the second packet from the switching node in the backbone network;
segmenting the second packet into one or more radio link frames; and
transmitting, using the radio component, the one or more radio link frames associated with the second packet to the mobile wireless terminal.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the network node includes a switching component, the method further comprising:
assembling, using the switching component, the one or more radio link frames into the first packet;
appending, using the switching component, the information to the header of the first packet;
removing, using the switching component, the information appended to the header of the second packet; and
segmenting, using the switching component, the second packet into the one or more radio link frames.
11. A network node that is configured to transmit packets in a network, wherein the network node is configured to:
receive a first packet from a base station associated with a cell site in the network;
append information to a header of the first packet, the information identifying a path through a backbone network, wherein appending information to the header of the first packet comprises attaching a first label to the first packet, the first label identifying a first label switched path through the backbone network; and
forward the first packet with the appended information to a switching node in the backbone network,
wherein the network node is placed in the cell site.
12. The network node of claim 11 , wherein identifying the first label switched path includes identifying a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)-based path.
13. The network node of claim 11 , 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, and wherein the network node is configured to:
receive, using the radio component, one or more radio link frames from the mobile wireless terminal; and
assemble the one or more radio link frames into the first packet.
14. The network node of claim 13 , wherein the network node includes a switching component, the network node further configured to:
assemble, using the switching component, the one or more radio link frames into the first packet; and
append, using the switching component, the information to the header of the first packet.
15. The network node of claim 14 , wherein the switching component is co-located with the radio component.
16. The network node of claim 11 , wherein the network node is located at an interface region between the cell site and the backbone network.
17. The network node of claim 11 , wherein the network node is associated with a cell site gateway.
18. The network node of claim 11 , wherein the network node is included in the base station.
19. A system comprising:
a base station associated with a cell site in a network;
a switching node in a backbone network associated with the network; and
a network node placed in the cell site and configured to forward packets between the base station and the switching node, wherein the network node is configured to:
receive a first packet from the base station;
append information to a header of the first packet, the information identifying a path through the backbone network, wherein appending information to the header of the first packet comprises attaching a first label to the first packet, the first label identifying a first label switched path through the backbone network; and
forward the first packet with the appended information to the switching node.