Patent ID: 8014395
Filing Date: 2011-09-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method in a network device comprising: logically partitioning a contiguous range of labels within a label space by a computer processor of said network device, wherein the contiguous range of labels is designated for a client and each of the labels from the range of labels is only allocable for use by the client; logically partitioning a second contiguous range of labels within the label space by said computer processor of said network device, wherein the second contiguous range of labels is designated for a second client and each of the labels from the second range of labels is only allocable for use by the second client; reflecting, in said range, one or more sets of labels allocated and one or more sets of labels unallocated by said client for label switching with peers of said network device through a free range structure that tracks a hierarchy of unallocated sub-ranges within said range; and reflecting, in said second range, one or more sets of labels allocated and one or more sets of labels unallocated by said second client for label switching with the peers of said network device through a second free range structure that tracks a hierarchy of unallocated sub-ranges within said second range.