Method and apparatus for configuring a communication path
AssigneeAlcatel
InventorCheng-Yin Lee
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for configuring a communication path which traverses different network domains are provided. A set-up signal for configuring the communication path is generated and includes both an identifier for identifying one or more network resources in one network domain and a domain identifier associated with the resource identifier which identifies the resource(s) as belonging to that network domain. The domain identifier allows resource identifiers unique to one domain to be included in an inter-domain communication path set-up signal. An inter-domain set-up signal may include a group identifier for identifying resources of a primary path in place of a specific identification of each resource.
Claims31
A method of forming a signal for configuring a communication path comprising:
- selecting at least one identifier used to identify one or more network resources in a predetermined network domain;
- and
- forming a signal for causing one or more network elements to configure a communication path including specifying in said signal said at least one identifier and a network domain identifier which indicates that said at least one identifier is associated with said network domain.
A method of determining a communication path comprising the steps of:
- receiving a communication signal containing at least one identifier used to identify one or more network resources and an indication that said at least one group identifier is associated with a predetermined network domain;
- detecting the indication of said network domain in said signal;
- based on the detected network domain, determining whether to include said at least one identifier in a decision on determining said communication path;
- and
- determining said communication path.
A network element comprising signal forming means for forming, for transmission on a network, a signal for configuring a communication path,
- wherein said signal forming means is adapted to included in said signal at least one identifier used to identify one or more network resources in a predetermined network domain, and
- a network domain identifier indicating that said at least one identifier is associated with said network domain.
A network element comprising receiving means for receiving a communication signal containing at least one group identifier used to identify one or more network resources and an indication that said at least one identifier is associated with a predetermined network domain,
- detecting means for detecting the indication of said network domain in said signal,
- first determining means for determining, based on the detected network domain, whether to include said at least one identifier in a decision on configuring a communication path;
- and
- second determining means for determining said communication path.
A method of forming a signal for transmission on a network, comprising receiving a resource group identifier used to identify a group of resources on a pre-configured network path, and forming a signal containing said resource group identifier.
A method of forming a signal for transmission on a network, comprising the steps of:
- receiving a resource group identifier used to identify one or more resources on the network, identifying from a record a resource identifier of one or more resources associated with said group identifier, and forming a signal containing a resource identifier of at least one resource identified from said record.
A network element comprising:
- receiving means for receiving a signal containing a resource group identifier used to identify a group of resources on a pre-configured network path, and signal forming means arranged to form a signal for transmission on said network, said signal containing said resource group identifier.
A network element comprising:
- receiving means for receiving a signal containing a resource group identifier used to identify one or more resources on a network,
- storage means containing a record of said resource group identifier and associated with said resource group identifier a respective resource identifier identifying each of said one or more resources in said group,
- comparing means for comparing the resource group identifier in said signal to said resource group identifier in said record, and
- signal forming means responsive to a result of the comparison for forming a signal for configuring a communication path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.