Apparatus, system, and method for sharing labels across label-switched paths within networks

A system comprising:

• a label module, stored in memory at a network node, that:
• assigns a label to a specific link between the network node and a further network node such that any packet whose label stack includes the label assigned to the specific link is forwarded to the further network node by way of the specific link;
• and
• enables a plurality of label-switched paths to use the same label assigned to the specific link instead of assigning another label to the specific link for another label-switched path;
• a receiving module, stored in memory at the network node, that:
• receives a reservation message that is to include labels assigned to links that lead to network nodes included in a label-switched path within the network;
• and
• receives another reservation message that is to include labels assigned to links that lead to network nodes included in another label-switched path within the network;
• wherein the label module:
• adds the label assigned to the specific link to the reservation message;
• and
• adds the label assigned to the specific link to the another reservation message;
• a forwarding module, stored in memory at the network node, that:
• forwards the reservation message toward an ingress node that manages the label-switched path;
• and
• forwards the another reservation message toward an ingress node that manages the another label-switched path;
• at least one physical processor configured to execute the label module, the receiving module, and the forwarding module.

An apparatus comprising:

• at least one storage device that stores a plurality of labels that correspond to portions of label-switched paths within a network;
• and
• at least one physical processing device communicatively coupled to the storage device within a network node, wherein the physical processing device:
• assigns a label to a specific link between the network node and a further network node such that any packet whose label stack includes the label assigned to the specific link is forwarded to the further network node by way of the specific link;
• and
• enables a plurality of label-switched paths to use the same label assigned to the specific link instead of assigning another label to the specific link for another label-switched path by:
• receiving a reservation message that is to include labels assigned to links that lead to network nodes included in a label-switched path within the network;
• adding the label assigned to the specific link to the reservation message;
• forwarding the reservation message toward an ingress node that manages the label-switched path;
• receiving another reservation message that is to include labels assigned to links that lead to network nodes included in another label-switched path within the network;
• adding the label assigned to the specific link to the another reservation message;
• and
• forwarding the another reservation message toward an ingress node that manages the another label-switched path.