US 2001/0019554 A1 · Label switch network system

Abstract

The present invention relates to label switch networks and allows for reducing the processing cost and processing time required at each node when various services are performed with respect to traffic engineering in the label switch networks including a multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network. In a label switch network system a first node that is disposed at the ingress of the label switch network transfers IP packets corresponding to IP flows based on labels, and that selects and sets up layer 2 paths for transferring the IP packets with reference to header or payload information of the IP packets. A plurality of second nodes may be disposed at intermediate points of the network and they set up the layer 2 paths from the ingress to the egress of the network following the specified routes and a third node is disposed at the egress of the network. A policy server instructs the first node to set up the layer 2 paths in compliance with policy control protocols when a user makes a request or a status change in the network arise, and intensively controls the first node, the second nodes and the third node.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A label switch network system having a plurality of label switch nodes interconnected by network links where layer 2 paths are set up by specified routes between the plurality of label switch nodes from a network ingress to a network egress, comprising:

an ingress node which is disposed at the ingress of the label switch network that transfers packets corresponding to packet flows based on labels, and which selects and sets up layer 2 paths for transferring the packets with reference to the header or payload information of the packets;
a policy server that instructs the ingress node to set up the layer 2 paths in compliance with policy control protocols when at least one of a user makes a request or a status change in the network arises, and controls the ingress node and the plurality of label switch nodes.

A policy server providing centralized management for a label switch network system having a plurality of label switch nodes interconnected by network links where layer 2 paths are set up by specified routes between the plurality of label switch nodes from a network ingress to a network egress, and

an ingress node disposed at the ingress of the label switch network that transfers packets corresponding to packet flows based on labels, and which selects and sets up layer 2 paths for transferring the packets with reference to the header or payload information of the packets;
the policy server comprising:
a receive processing unit for detecting requests or status changes in the network, and
a path creation and transmitting unit responsive to the receive processing unit, for instructing the ingress node to set up the layer 2 paths in compliance with policy control protocols, via the plurality of label switch nodes.

1 more element

A method for setting up and selecting layer 2 paths for transferring IP packets in a label switch network system having a plurality of label switch nodes interconnected by network links where layer 2 paths are set up by specified routes between the plurality of label switch nodes from a network ingress to a network egress, and an ingress node disposed at the ingress of the label switch network system that transfers the IP packets corresponding to IP flows based on labels;

the method comprising the steps of:
detecting requests and status changes in the network,
determining, when transferring the IP packets in the ingress node, whether existing layer 2 paths are selected to transfer the IP packets or new layer 2 paths following appropriate routes are to be newly set up,
calculating appropriate routes for the layer 2 paths including quality assurance parameters,
instructing the ingress node to set up the layer 2 paths in compliance with policy control protocols, and
transferring the IP packets with reference to the header or payload information of the packets.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Label switch network system

Life of this patent

Label switch network system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23