Patent ID: 7647425
Filing Date: 2010-01-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for routing of data packets for avoiding circulation of the data packets, in a packet-switched network connected to a plurality of external networks, the method comprising: assigning unique node identifiers to nodes of a packet switched network (N providing a destination table that associates for each external network connected to the packet switched network (N providing a routing table for each node in the packet-switched network (N appending a label to a data packet at an ingress node where the data packet enters packet-switched network (N forwarding the data packet from the ingress node to the egress node by an internal router of the packet-switched network by accessing the routing table for each node traversed in the packet-switched network, and reading the next hop data for the IL/EL pair that coincides with the label; and providing alternative loop-free routes for the forwarding of the data packet in the routing table for each IL/EL pair when an alternate next hop is available, wherein loops are avoided because the ingress node identified by the IL is excluded as an alternative route, wherein the data packet is supplied with two data fields, wherein each of the data fields is added to the data packet as a header or a trailer, wherein one of the data fields includes an identifier for the ingress node and the other data field includes an identifier for the egress node, and wherein a bit sequence is appended to or prefixed to at least one data field, identifying the data field as such.