Protecting connection traffic using filters
AssigneeJuniper Networks, Inc.
InventorsPing Pan, Der-Hwa Gan, Keith E. Holleman, Manoj Leelanivas, Nischal Sheth, Arun Vaidyanathan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection between network nodes in a communication network is backed up. A failover label-switched path (LSP) is created starting at a first network node of a connection and ending at the second node of the connection, while bypassing the protected connection. In the event of connection failure, data is transmitted through the failover LSP. A network operator can selectively protect different types of data by using filters that bind one or more types of traffic received over one or more interfaces to different failover LSPs.
Claims18
A processor-implemented method for configuring a failover label-switched path for a communications connection between a first node and a second node, the processor-implemented method comprising:
- a) defining a label-switched path from the first node to the second node, wherein the defined label-switched path bypasses the communications connection;
- b) associating a data type to be supported by the communications connection to a filter;
- c) associating the filter to the defined label-switched path;
- and
- d) updating forwarding information to include the filter, so that in response to a failure of the communications connection, a data type is used to select the filter and the defined label-switched path associated with the filter,
- wherein the processor includes at least one of a microprocessor, a network processor and integrated circuits.
For use with a node, a processor-implemented method for backing up a communications connection between the node and another node, the processor-implemented method comprising:
- a) receiving data to be forwarded;
- and
- b) if the received data is to be forwarded over the communications connection and if the communications connection has failed, then
- i) determining a traffic type of the received data,
- ii) determining a filter associated with the traffic type,
- iii) determining a failover label-switched path associated with the filter, and
- iv) forwarding the received data over the determined failover label-switched path.
A node adapted to terminate a communications connection between it and another node, the node comprising:
- a) at least one storage device for storing
- i) an association of a filter with a traffic type supported by the communications connection,
- ii) an association of the filter with a failover label-switched path, and
- iii) forwarding information used to forward received data;
- b) a forwarding facility adapted to receive data to be forwarded;
- and
- c) a communications connection failover facility for protecting received data to be forwarded over the communications connection when the communications connection has failed, the communication connection failover facility adapted to
- i) determine a traffic type of the received data,
- ii) determine, using the association of the filter with the traffic type stored in the at least one storage device, the filter associated with the determined traffic type,
- iii) determining, using the association of the filter with a failover label-switched path, the failover label-switched path associated with the filter, and
- iv) forwarding the received data over the determined failover label-switched path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.