METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STREAM AGGREGATION IN A MULTIPROTOCOL LABEL SWITCHING NETWORK ENVIRONMENT

• Main Authors: WHITE CHRISTOPHER J, FREDETTE ANDRE N
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.08.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE; ELECTRICITY; SELECTING

A method and apparatus for stream aggregation in a multiprotocol label switching network environment includes receiving a label assignment request that includes an identification of a path followed by the label assignment request through the network and determining whether the path has been used by any of a plurality of previous label assignment requests. A new label is assigned for the path if the path has not been used by any of the plurality of previous label assignment requests, otherwise a previously assigned label is assigned for the path. Additionally, according to one aspect, a method in a switch of a multiprotocol label switching network includes receiving a label assignment request that includes an identification of a path followed by the label assignment request through the network to the switch, and determining whether the path has been used by any of a plurality of previous label assignment requests. A merge identifier is assigned to the label assignment request, the assigned merge identifier being either a new merge identifier, if the path has not been used by any of the plurality of previous label assignment requests, or a previously assigned merge identifier if the path has been used by any of the plurality of previous label assignment requests, and the merge identifier is forwarded to both the label assignment request and the assigned merge identifier to a next switch in the network.