Patent ID: 7586899

Claim:
A network for transferring multimedia over Internet protocol (MoIP) packets, said network comprising: at least two points of presence (PoPs) that are communicatively coupled to one another by an IP-based packet network having IP routes; an overlay network configured to route said MoIP packets and comprising a plurality of overlay network units (ONU), wherein at least one of the ONUs is communicatively coupled to said IP-based packet network such that the overlay network exists on top of the IP-based packet network, wherein at least one of the ONUs establishes at least one label-switched path (LSP) of the overlay network, wherein the at least one LSP is established using a label distribution protocol as an alternative path to a default IP route within the IP-based packet network, wherein the at least one LSP is established as a designated source-to-destination path that is pre-defined from a specified source to a specified destination; in each of the ONUs, a packet forwarding mechanism for determining (i) a packet next destination along the at least one LSP and (ii) a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) label to be applied to the MoIP packets for communication along the at least one LSP.