Patent ID: RE40826

Claim:
A method of establishing a data transfer connection between a first node and a second node across a domain which only allows unidirectional data flow, the method comprising: a) sending a setup message from the first node to the second node, said setup message containing a first connection service label for a backward direction of data flow, said backward direction being from said second node to said first node; b) receiving said setup message at said second node and reserving said first connection service label for data being sent from said second node to said first node; c) sending a response message from the second node to the first node, said response message containing a second connection service label for a forward direction of data flow, said forward direction being from said second first node to said first second node; and d) receiving said response message at said first node and reserving said second connection service label for data being sent from said first node to said second node, wherein for forward data transmission in said forward direction, data packets for said forward data transmission will be labelled labeled with said second connection service label and for a backward data transmission in said backward direction, data packets for said backward data transmission will be labelled labeled with said first connection service label.