Patent ID: 10110475

Abstract:
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for restoring a MultiProtocol Label Switching (MPLS) ring network in the event of a network link failure. The MPLS ring network comprises a path for traffic around the ring comprising a plurality of sequential Label Switched Paths (LSPs). The method comprises, at a network node in the MPLS ring network: detecting a failure along a network link traversed by a first LSP having an end point at the network node; in response to the detecting, encapsulating an Ethernet Ring Protocol (ERP) restoration message in a restoration pseudowire; and transmitting the restoration pseudowire within a second LSP over a subsequent network link. The method also comprises, at a network node in the MPLS ring network: receiving a first LSP comprising a pseudowire; detecting that the pseudowire is a restoration pseudowire comprising an Ethernet Ring Protocol (ERP) restoration message; and in response to the detecting, processing the ERP restoration message. There is also provided a network node for an MPLS ring network, and an MPLS ring network.