Apparatus, system, and method for reconfiguring point-to-multipoint label-switched paths

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor;
• a control plane that directs the processor to:
• detect that at least a portion of an initial branch path of a point-to-multipoint label-switched path has failed over to a failover route that rejoins the initial branch path at a network node, and
• establish an alternate branch path that merges with the initial branch path at the network node;
• a network interface;
• and
• a data plane that uses the network interface to transmit data via the alternate branch path, wherein after the data plane begins transmitting data via the alternate branch path, the control plane instructs the network node to forward data from the alternate branch path rather than from the failover route.

A system comprising:

• a rerouting-control device comprising:
• a control plane that detects at least a portion of an initial branch path of a point-to-multipoint label-switched path has failed over to a failover route that rejoins the initial branch path at a network node, wherein the control plane also establishes an alternate branch path that merges with the initial branch path at the network node;
• a data plane that transmits data via the alternate branch path, wherein after the data plane begins transmitting data via the alternate branch path, the control plane sends a signal that instructs the network node to forward data from the alternate branch path rather than from the failover route;
• and
• wherein the network node comprises:
• a control plane that receives the signal from the rerouting-control device;
• a data plane that, in response to the signal from the rerouting control device, forwards data from the alternate branch path and drops data from the failover route.