Patent ID: 6882643

Claim:
A method of establishing a switched virtual circuit (SVC) between an originating end point and a destination end point in a network incorporating a multiprotocol label switching network, the method including: conveying an IP address of the originating end point and a session identifier across the network to second call connection processing means associated with the destination end point; in response thereto, conveying an IP address of the destination end point together with said session identifier to first call connection processing means associated with the originating end point; defining a plurality of first level paths across the multiprotocol label switching network; defining through said first and second call connection processing means a second level path comprising a concatenated series of said first level paths; transmitting a telecommunications packet over the network between the end points; attaching a label to the packet indicative of said second level path at an ingress to the multiprotocol label switching network; transporting the labelled packet over said second level path; removing the label from the packet; and delivering the packet to the destination end point.