Patent ID: 7668166
Filing Date: 2010-02-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for operating a router, the router connected in a service-provider network, comprising: receiving a data packet to be forwarded from outside the service-provider network, the data packet having a destination address specifying a destination computer located outside the service-provider network that is accessible via a path through the service-provider network; prepending a tag to the data packet, the tag identifying an egress channel of an edge router of the service-provider network that is located at an end of the path and coupled to a plurality of routers located outside the service-provider network, a different egress channel leading to each of the plurality of routers, the tag to be used by the edge router to route the data packet out the egress channel to a particular one of the routers and toward the destination computer; prepending an encapsulation header to the data packet; and transmitting the data packet with the encapsulation header and the tag through the service-provider network toward the edge router.