Patent ID: 7460517
Filing Date: 2008-12-02
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a multiprotocol label switching network (MPLS) communications network, comprising: providing a plurality of redundant links between a first network node and a second network node, the first node being associated with a first local access and transport area (LATA) and the second node being associated with a second LATA; associating a first identifier with a first one of the plurality of redundant links and a second identifier with a second one of the plurality of redundant links, the first and second identifiers being associated with a regulatory constraint and the first and second identifiers being first and second MPLS labels, respectively, the first one of the plurality of redundant links being associated with a first inter-exchange carrier (IEC) and the second one of the plurality of redundant links being associated with a second IEC; and routing packet traffic that is marked with the first identifier to the first one of the plurality of redundant links and traffic that is marked with the second identifier to the second one of the plurality of redundant links so that operation of the communications network is in compliance with the regulatory constraint; wherein a portion of the traffic is associated with a customer, the method further comprising: receiving a selection from the customer of the first IEC; and marking the traffic associated with the customer with the first identifier.