Patent ID: 7126907
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of path restoration in a communication network having a first switching router and a second switching router, first and second communication paths extending between said first and second switching routers, said second communication path including at least one communication path element different from said first communication path, the method comprising steps of: creating a first label switched path on said first communication path; placing one or more data flows within said first label switched path; creating a second label switched path on said second communication path; associating said second label switched path with said first label switched path so as to identify said second label switched path as an alternative path for said first label switched path; transferring knowledge of said one or more data flows within said first label switched path to said second label switched path; and redirecting data flows destined for said first switched path to said second label switched path; wherein said step of creating a second label switched path comprises said step of associating said second label switched path and further comprises a step of sending a set up signal to said second switching router, said set up signal having a extra data field identifying the first label switched path; wherein the step of transferring knowledge further comprises transferring a soft state of each said one or more data flows; and wherein each said first and second switching routers have an incoming label map for each said first and second label switched paths and the step of transferring knowledge comprises a step of copying entries from the incoming label map of said first label switched path to the incoming label map of said second label switched path.