Patent ID: 6834054
Filing Date: 2004-12-21
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A communications network (MPLS-D) comprising two or more network nodes (ISR1 to ISR3) each provided with a Layer 2 switching element (SW1 to SW3) and a switch controller (SC1 to SC3) for controlling the respective Layer 2 switching element (SW1 to SW3),characterized in that the switch controller (SC1) is composed of several independent modules, namely a shortcut control module (SHCM1), at least one trigger module (TRIGM1 to TRIGM3), and at least one protocol module (LDPM1 to LDPM2), that the at least one trigger module (TRIGM1 to TRIGM3) is designed to initiate the assignment of a shortcut, which is formed by a direct Layer 2 connection, to a Layer 3 forwarding relationship if respective predetermined criteria are satisfied, that the shortcut control module (SHCM1) is designed to communicate with the respective Layer 2 switching element (SW1), initiating the assignment of data packets to shortcuts by marking data packets with a label assigned to the respective shortcut, and controlling the switching of shortcuts through the respective Layer 2 switching element (SW1), and that the at least one protocol module (LDPM1 to LDPM2) is designed to distribute labels to switch controllers (SC2, SC3) of other network nodes (ISR2, ISR3) of the communications network (MPLS-D) and thereby coordinate the assignment of labels to shortcuts.