Path computation element communication protocol (PCEP) extensions for stateful label switched path management

A path computation element (PCE) comprising:

• a control unit having one or more processors;
• a client interface of the control unit that establishes an extended path computation element communication protocol (PCEP) session to a path computation client (PCC) of a network router of a packet-switched network;
• and
• a label switched path (LSP) state database that stores LSP state information for one or more LSPs owned by the PCC,
• wherein the client interface receives LSP state information that specifies a current state of an existing LSP previously signaled by the PCC and stores the LSP state information to the LSP state database, and
• wherein the client interface sends, to the PCC using the extended PCEP session, an LSP update request that includes one or more updated parameters for the existing LSP and directs the PCC to re-signal the existing LSP according to the updated parameters.

A method comprising:

• establishing an extended path computation element communication protocol (PCEP) session, with a path computation client (PCC) of a network router of a packet-switched network, to a stateful path computation element (PCE);
• synchronizing, with the PCC, label switched path (LSP) state information that specifies a current state of an existing LSP previously signaled by the PCC to the stateful PCE using the extended PCEP session;
• and
• receiving, with the PCC from the stateful PCE using the extended PCEP session, an LSP update request that includes one or more updated parameters for the existing LSP and directs the PCC to re-signal the existing LSP according to the updated parameters.

A router comprising:

• a control unit having one or more processors;
• a path computation client of the control unit having a path computation element (PCE) interface that establishes an extended path computation element communication protocol (PCEP) session to a stateful PCE;
• and
• a label switched path (LSP) database that includes configuration data for one or more LSPs configured in the router and further includes LSP state information specifying a current state of all LSPs of the router,
• wherein the PCE interface synchronizes the LSP state information to the stateful PCE using the extended PCEP session,
• wherein the PCE interface receives, using the extended PCEP session, an LSP update request from the stateful PCE that includes one or more updated parameters for an existing LSP of the LSPs and directs the router to re-signal the existing LSP according to the updated parameters.