Method for enabling multipoint network services over a ring topology network

A method for enabling efficient bandwidth utilization of multipoint network services over a ring topology network that includes a plurality of network elements (NEs), comprising the steps of:

• a. setting up a full connectivity between the NEs of the ring topology network:
• and b. providing multipoint network services between said NEs using said full connectivity;
• whereby data packets of said multipoint network services flooded from one of said NEs that serves as a source NE to all other NEs of said plurality that serve as edge NEs, and whereby said data packets are not replicated at said source NE, said step of setting up a full connectivity between all the NEs of the ring topology network further includes:
• i. establishing a first plurality of point-to-multipoint connections between each said source NE and all said edge NEs;
• and, ii. establishing second a plurality of point-to-point connections between each said source NE and every one of said edge NEs, wherein said establishing of a first plurality of point-to-multipoint connections includes establishing connections between each said source NE and each of said edge NEs, and wherein said establishing of a second plurality of point-to-point connections includes establishing a connection between said each source NE and every one of said edge Nes, and wherein said establishing of a second plurality of point-to-point connections between each said source NE and every one of said edge NEs further includes:
• A. configuring each NE positioned on a path between each said source NE and a respective edge NE to perform a forward action on each packet including said specific label;
• and, B. configuring said respective edge NE to perform a drop action on each packet including said specific label.

A network element (NE) operative to enable efficient bandwidth utilization of a multipoint network service over a ring topology network, comprising:

• a) a virtual connection selector (VCS) operative of map incoming data packets to connections;
• b) a plurality of input ports used for receiving said data packets from at least one customer site device c) a plurality of output ports for transferring said data packets to at least one customer site device;
• and, d) at least two ring ports to receive and transmit data packets over a communication means of the ring network;
• whereby the NE communicates with other NEs sharing the multipoint network service over a full connectivity established between the NEs of the ring topology network;
• and whereby data packets of the multipoint network service flooded from said NE to all said other NEs are not replicated by said NE, wherein said VCS includes:
• i. a destination address to a destination label (DA2DL) table used for mapping a destination address to a corresponding destination label associated with a said data packet;
• ii. a forward information table (FIT) coupled to said DA2DL table and used for associating a label with a specific forwarding function;
• and, iii. a destination NE-to-a destination label (DNE2DL) table coupled to said DA2DL and said FIT tables and used for mapping a destination NE to a corresponding destination label.

A system for efficient bandwidth utilization of a multipoint network service over a ring topology network, the system comprising:

• a. a plurality of network elements (NEs), each NE operative to provide a forwarding function;
• and b. a full connectivity mechanism that facilitates multipoint network services between all said NE on the ring topology network , wherein each said NE includes:
• i. a virtual connection selector (VCS) capable of mapping incoming data packets to network connections;
• ii. a plurality of input ports used for receiving said data packets from at least one customer site device;
• and, iii. a plurality of output ports for transferring said data packets to at least one customer site device, wherein said VCS further includes:
• a) a destination address to a destination label (DA2DL) table used for mapping a destination address to a corresponding destination label associated with a said data packet;
• b) a forward information table (FIT) coupled to said DA2DL table and used for associating a label with a specific forwarding function;
• and, c) a destination NE-to-a destination label (DNE2DL) table coupled to said DA2DL and said FIT tables and used for mapping a destination NE to a corresponding destination label.