Patent ID: 6483833
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for a label switch to distribute label switching control information to interconnected label switches in a data network, comprising:creating a label binding; inserting the label binding into an Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) Opaque Link State Advertisement (LSA) packet, the inserting the label binding into a OSPF Opaque LSA packet comprises transmitting and associating address prefix information with a label in an application specific field of the OSPF Opaque LSA packet; and distributing the OSPF Opaque LSA packet to the interconnected label switches, the distributing the OSPF Opaque LSA packet comprises: limiting a flooding to local network segments attached to the label switch; and exchanging the OSPF Opaque LISA packet between a group of interconnected Opaque LSA capable switches to maintain label forwarding tables and routing tables of the interconnected label switches to forward data packets according to a label swapping forwarding paradigm.