Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US8064467?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=7181427
Timestamp: 2014-07-26 01:08:24
Document Index: 15237563

Matched Legal Cases: ['application No. 2', 'application No. 2', 'application No. 200780025193', 'application No. 200680003986', 'application No. 2', 'application No. 06720174', 'application No. 07710455', 'application No. 07710455', 'application No. 07864928', 'application No. 07710455', 'application No. 06720175', 'application No. 07864928', 'application No. 2007']

Patent US8064467 - Systems and methods for network routing in a multiple backbone network ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsEmbodiments of a network architecture include a backbone node having a plurality of independent routers or switches connected in a matrix, wherein the matrix includes a plurality of stages of routers or switches, to form a node having a node switching capacity that is greater than the node switching...http://www.google.com/patents/US8064467?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US8064467 - Systems and methods for network routing in a multiple backbone network architectureAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS8064467 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 11/565,563Publication dateNov 22, 2011Filing dateNov 30, 2006Priority dateFeb 4, 2005Also published asCA2657111A1, CN101485156A, CN101485156B, CN101485161A, CN101485161B, EP2087664A1, EP2087664A4, EP2087664B1, EP2515490A2, EP2515490A3, US8259713, US20070086429, US20090141632, US20120327946, WO2008066936A1Publication number11565563, 565563, US 8064467 B2, US 8064467B2, US-B2-8064467, US8064467 B2, US8064467B2InventorsJoseph Lawrence, Nassar El-Aawar, Darren Loher, Steven Craig White, Raoul Alcala, Niclas ComstedtOriginal AssigneeLevel 3 Communications, LlcExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (65), Non-Patent Citations (39), Classifications (13), Legal Events (2) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetSystems and methods for network routing in a multiple backbone network architectureUS 8064467 B2Abstract Embodiments of a network architecture include a backbone node having a plurality of independent routers or switches connected in a matrix, wherein the matrix includes a plurality of stages of routers or switches, to form a node having a node switching capacity that is greater than the node switching capacity of the individual routers or switches. A method includes assigning one of a plurality of backbone networks to a destination network address, associating a next hop loopback address with the destination network address, and advertising the destination network address in combination with the next hop loopback address through the selected backbone network address.
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/347,810, filed Feb. 3, 2006, and entitled �Ethernet-based Systems and Methods for Improved Network Routing�, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/650,312, filed Feb. 4, 2005, and entitled �Systems And Methods For Improved Network Routing�, both of which are incorporated herein in their entireties.
FIELD The present invention relates generally to network routing, and more specifically to systems and methods for network routing in a multiple backbone network architecture.
BACKGROUND High speed internet prices continue to drop, but the underlying costs of maintaining and operating the networks remain relatively high. One of the main factors in keeping the unit costs high is the high cost for the terabit Multiple protocol Label Switching (MPLS) backbone routers. Accordingly, as bandwidth requirements grow, the costs will likely grow as well.
SUMMARY Embodiments of a network include a backbone node that includes a plurality of independent routers or switches connected in a matrix, wherein the matrix includes a plurality of stages of routers or switches, to form a node having a node switching capacity that is greater than the node switching capacity of the individual routers or switches. The routers or switches may be connected in an N�M Internet Protocol (IP) based CLOS matrix, wherein N>1 is the number of stages in the matrix and M>1 is the number of routers or switches in each stage. Traffic may be directed among the routers or switches using IP or Ethernet routing protocols. Traffic may be load balanced using one or more load balancing techniques selected from a group consisting of equal cost load balancing, traffic engineering, or flow-based load balancing. A number of links may be provisioned on the routers or switches in a manner that supports the traffic balancing technique performed by the node.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a three-stage multichassis Ethernet router (MER) in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments include systems and methods that provide for multiple backbone networks to support communications between networks. A first routing protocol is used by a provider edge device to select a backbone network from the multiple backbone networks for handling communications associated with one or more associated network addresses. The provider edge network device assigns a port with a next hop loopback address to the associated one or more network addresses. A second routing protocol is used to notify other provider edge network devices that the selected backbone network should be used to carry packets addressed to the associated one or more network addresses.
DEFINITIONS A module is a self-contained functional component. A module may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof.
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