Mechanism for updating parameters of a session set up through a virtual circuit

A provider edge node of a packet-switched network, a pseudo-wire being set up between a first provider edge node of the packet-switched network and said provider edge node, through at least one router of the packet-switched network, and according to a label distribution protocol, a label being associated with a node and a data communication session, said provider edge node comprising a transmitter for transmitting data through the pseudo-wire in accordance with at least one label and in accordance with first parameters defining a first data communication session set up through the pseudo-wire between the first provider edge node and the provider edge node, said provider edge node comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a set up message of a second data communication session through said pseudo-wire during a phase of transmission of data through the pseudo-wire in accordance with the at least one label and the first parameters between the first and second provider edge nodes, the set-up message comprising a new label and second parameters defining the second data communication session;
• and
• a transmitter for sending the router a notification message comprising the new label and the second parameters defining the second data communication session, the transmission of data continuing through said pseudo-wire in accordance with the second data communication session, wherein after reception of the notification message comprising the new label and the second parameters defining the second data communication session,
• the router sends an upstream neighbour equipment, or upstream equipment, a message requesting deletion of the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session;
• the router sends a downstream neighbour equipment, or downstream equipment, the notification message;
• and
• on reception of the notification message, the downstream equipment configures a switching table of the downstream equipment after which the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session are deleted from the switching table.

A router of a packet-switched network through which a pseudo-wire is established between a first provider edge node of a packet-switched network downstream of the router and a second provider edge node of the packet-switched network upstream thereof and according to a label distribution protocol, a label being associated with a node and a data communication session, data being transmitted through the pseudo-wire in accordance with at least one label and first parameters defining a first data communication session set up between the first and second provider edge nodes, the router comprising:

• a receiver for receiving a notification message comprising a new label and second parameters defining a second data communication session through said pseudo-wire during a phase of transmission of data through the pseudo-wire in accordance with the at least one label and the first parameters, the transmission of data continuing through said pseudo-wire in accordance with the second parameters defining the second data communication session;
• a transmitter for sending an upstream neighbour equipment a message requesting deletion of the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session during the phase of transmission of data through the pseudo-wire in accordance with the at least one label and the first parameters;
• and
• a transmitter for after reception of the notification message comprising the new label and the second parameters defining the second data communication session,
• the router sends an upstream neighbour equipment, or upstream equipment, a message requesting deletion of the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session;
• the router sends a downstream neighbour equipment, or downstream equipment, the notification message;
• and
• on reception of the notification message, the downstream equipment configures a switching table of the downstream equipment after which the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session are deleted from the switching table.

A non-transitory computer program product comprising program code instructions for a processor to carry out a communications method through a pseudo-wire set up between a first and a second provider edge nodes of a packet-switched network through at least one router of the packet-switched network and according to a label distribution protocol, a label being associated with a node and a data communication session, said method comprising, during a phase of transmission of data through the pseudo-wire in accordance with at least one label and in accordance with first parameters defining a first data communication session set up between the first and second provider edge nodes:

• receiving, by the second provider edge node, a set up message of a second data communication session through said pseudo-wire, the set-up message comprising a new label and second parameters defining the second data communication session;
• and
• sending, by the second provider edge node, to the router, a notification message comprising the new label and the second parameters defining the second data communication session, the transmission of data continuing through said pseudo-wire in accordance with the parameters defining the second data communication session;
• after reception of the notification message comprising the new label and the second parameters defining the second data communication session,
• the router sends an upstream neighbour equipment, or upstream equipment, a message requesting deletion of the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session;
• the router sends a downstream neighbour equipment, or downstream equipment, the notification message;
• and
• on reception of the notification message, the downstream equipment configures a switching table of the downstream equipment after which the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session are deleted from the switching table.

A method for producing a signal transmitted between first and second devices of a packet-switched network through which a pseudo-wire is established, data being transmitted through the pseudo-wire during a transmission phase in accordance with a label distribution protocol, a label being associated with a node and a data communication session, at least one label and first parameters defining a first data communication session, wherein said method for producing the signal comprises, during the transmission phase:

• producing the signal that bears a notification message comprising a new label and second parameters defining a second data communication session set up between first and second provider edge nodes between which the pseudo-wire is set up, the transmission of data continuing through said pseudo-wire in accordance with the new label and the second parameters defining the second data communication session,
• after reception of the notification message comprising the new label and the second parameters defining the second data communication session,
• the router sends an upstream neighbour equipment, or upstream equipment, a message requesting deletion of the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session;
• the router sends a downstream neighbour equipment, or downstream equipment, the notification message;
• and
• on reception of the notification message, the downstream equipment configures a switching table of the downstream equipment after which the at least one label and the first parameters defining the first data communication session are deleted from the switching table.