Patent ID: 7733812

Claim:
A method for enabling efficient bandwidth utilization of multipoint network services over a ring topology network that includes a plurality of network elements (NEs), comprising the steps of: a. setting up a full connectivity between the NEs of the ring topology network; and b. providing multipoint network services between said NEs using said full connectivity, wherein said step of setting up a full connectivity between all the NEs of the ring topology network further includes: i. establishing a first plurality of point-to-multipoint connections between each said source NE and all said edge NEs; and, ii. establishing second a plurality of point-to-point connections between each said source NE and every one of said edge NEs, and wherein said establishing of said first plurality of point-to-multipoint connections includes providing each said data packet with a respective default label, configuring each of said edge NEs except a terminal NE to perform a drop-and-forward operation on each said data packet having a default label and configuring said terminal NE to perform a drop action on each said data packet having a default label; whereby data packets of said multipoint network services flooded from one of said NEs that serves as a source NE to all other NEs of said plurality that serve as edge NEs, and whereby said data packets are not replicated at said source NE.