Patent ID: 8249057

Claim:
A method for communicating between overlay network units (ONUs) over an overlay network that exists on top of an Internet protocol (IP)-based packet network having IP routes, the method comprising: accepting multimedia over Internet protocol (MoIP) packets; selecting a designated source-to-destination path from a specified source to a specified destination using a path selection algorithm based upon a plurality of available overlay network paths and based upon one or more of priority, load balancing, router availability, source address, destination address, source port, destination port, or quality of service; establishing at least one label-switched path (LSP) between the specified source and the specified destination through the overlay network along the selected path, wherein the at least one LSP is established using a label distribution protocol as an alternative path to a default IP route in the IP-based packet network; determining a packet next destination along the at least one LSP and a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) label to be applied to the MoIP packets for communication along the at least one LSP; modifying said MoIP packets by attaching the MPLS label to the MoIP packets; and forwarding the modified MoIP packets to the packet next destination along the at least one LSP in said overlay network.