Patent ID: 8630295
Filing Date: 2014-01-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for transporting data from a layer two (L2) connection coupling an L2 network to a Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, the method comprising: receiving, at an ingress device positioned at an edge of the MPLS network, a request to transport data associated with the L2 connection from the L2 network to the MPLS network, wherein the request specifies constraint information for one or more characteristics of the L2 connection from the L2 network to the MPLS network, and wherein the request is received from a network device positioned within the L2 network and external to the MPLS network; selecting, with the ingress device, a label switched path (LSP) from a plurality of LSPs of the MPLS network based on the constraint information for the L2 connection from the L2 network to the MPLS network; issuing a call admission message from the ingress device to the network device positioned within the L2 network in response to the request, wherein the call admission message includes an L2 connection identifier associated with the selected LSP; after issuing the call admission message, receiving with the ingress device a packet from the L2 connection, wherein the packet includes data and the L2 connection identifier included within the call admission message; and forwarding, with the ingress device, the data received from the L2 connection through the MPLS network via the selected LSP.