Patent ID: 8243625

Claim:
A system for implementing a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) Label Distribution Protocol (LDP) for Multi-Topology (MT), the system comprising: a plurality of network elements wherein at least one of the network elements includes interfaces that participate in a plurality of concurrently existing network topologies defined by arrangements of the plurality of network elements; and a communication mechanism configured to provide communication among the plurality of network elements, wherein the plurality of network elements are configured to discover LDP peers, create and maintain LDP sessions within a network topology of the plurality of concurrently existing network topologies, establish Label Switched Paths (LSPs) among the peers by mapping network layer routing information within a network topology to data link layer switched paths, wherein the communication mechanism is configured to enable the plurality of network elements to exchange mappings of label and Forwarding Equivalent Classes (FECs) included within each network topology in the plurality of network topologies.