Patent ID: 7046669

Claim:
A method of routing an information packet over a label switched path (LSP) between first and second end stations in a virtual private network (VPN) defined over a network arrangement of routers, the method comprising the step of: attaching to the information packet at a network edge a sequence of labels indicative of a hierarchical arrangement of levels of paths, wherein a lowermost level of said hierarchical arrangement comprises a mesh of Layer 1 LSPs between adjacent routers, a next higher level of said hierarchical arrangement comprises a mesh of Layer 2 LSPs, each Layer 2 LSP comprising a concatenated sequence of Layer 1 LSPs, and wherein said LSP between the first and second end stations comprises an uppermost level of said hierarchical arrangement being specified by a pair of the Layer 2 LSPs; wherein the hierarchical arrangement of levels of paths comprises a hierarchical arrangement of Quality of Service (QoS) capable Multi-Protocol Label Switch (MPLS) tunnels.