US6408001B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for determining label assignments for a router
Assignee: Nokia of America Corp
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Filing: 1998-10-21
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Granted: 2002-06-18
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Expires: 2018-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Overhead is reduced and packet transport efficiency is increased for a flow of switched packets from a router by identifying a plurality of packets having a common destination node within a network and transmitting at least one control message to establish the flow of switched packets; the at least one control message including: (i) a label mapping message corresponding to the flow of switched packets and (ii) a header removal field. Packet headers corresponding to packets of a switched packet flow are not parsed, therefore either the entire header, or a portion of the header, may be removed from each packet assigned a label. A header removal field is shared among routers while signaling to establish a labeled flow. The header removal field is used to provide header structure information to those routers which will be utilized for transport of the subsequent labeled flow. Packet transport densities are monitored at individual routers. A dual-value threshold density methodology is applied at routers to determine whether packet transport density is great enough to warrant a dedicated label, a shared label applied to merged switched packet flows, or no label at all.
Inventors
- 👤 Mooi Choo Chuah
- 👤 On-Ching Yue
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 08:35
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L45/00; H04L45/50; H04L45/02; H04L45/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for determining packet label assignments at a router comprising the steps of: detecting, at said router, a plurality of unlabeled packets having a common destination address; identifying, over a predetermined time period, a count value for said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common destination address; calculating a packet transport density value utilizing said count value and said predetermined time period; issuing a dedicated label to establish a new switched packet flow if said packet transport density value is greater than a first threshold value; and forwarding, without issuing a label and without merging with an existing switched packet flow, packets subsequently arriving at said router and corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common destination address, if said packet transport density value is less than a second threshold value, wherein said first threshold value is greater than said second threshold value.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for determining packet label assignments at a router comprising the steps of: detecting, at said router, a plurality of unlabeled packets having a common destination address; identifying, over a predetermined time period, a count value for said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common destination address; calculating a packet transport density value utilizing said count value and said predetermined time period; issuing a dedicated label to establish a new switched packet flow if said packet transport density value is greater than a first threshold value; and forwarding, without issuing a label and without merging with an existing switched packet flow, packets subsequently arriving at said router and corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common destination address, if said packet transport density value is less than a second threshold value, wherein said first threshold value is greater than said second threshold value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein said router is a label switching router.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising the step of: determining that said packets subsequently arriving at said router and corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common destination address will be appended with a label if said packet transport density value is greater than or equal to said second threshold value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said label is a newly issued label if an existing label is not available to convey said packets subsequently arriving at said router and corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common destination address.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said label is an existing label if an existing packet flow, utilizing said existing label and having a common destination node, had been previously established through said router.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method in accordance with claim 3 wherein said label is an existing label only if: (a) an existing packet flow, utilizing said existing label and having a common destination node, had been previously established through said router, and (b) a quality of service guarantee corresponding to said existing packet flow is equivalent to a quality of service guarantee corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common destination address.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for determining packet label assignments at a router comprising the steps of: detecting, at said router, a plurality of unlabeled packets having a common source address; identifying, over a predetermined time period, a count value for said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common source address; calculating a packet transport density value utilizing said count value and said predetermined time period; issuing a dedicated label to establish a new switched packet flow if said packet transport density value is greater than a first threshold value; and forwarding, without issuing a label and without merging with an existing switched packet flow, packets subsequently arriving at said router and corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common source address, if said packet transport density value is less than a second threshold value, wherein said first threshold value is greater than said second threshold value.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
146 words
A method for determining packet label assignments at a router comprising the steps of: detecting, at said router, a plurality of unlabeled packets having a common source address; identifying, over a predetermined time period, a count value for said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common source address; calculating a packet transport density value utilizing said count value and said predetermined time period; issuing a dedicated label to establish a new switched packet flow if said packet transport density value is greater than a first threshold value; and forwarding, without issuing a label and without merging with an existing switched packet flow, packets subsequently arriving at said router and corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common source address, if said packet transport density value is less than a second threshold value, wherein said first threshold value is greater than said second threshold value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method in accordance with claim 7 wherein said router is a label switching router.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising the step of: determining that said packets subsequently arriving at said router and corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common source address will be appended with a label if said packet transport density value is greater than or equal to said second threshold value.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said label is a newly issued label if an existing label is not available to convey said packets subsequently arriving at said router and corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common source address.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said label is an existing label if an existing packet flow, utilizing said existing label and having a common source node, had been previously established through said router.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method in accordance with claim 9 wherein said label is an existing label only if: (a) an existing packet flow, utilizing said existing label and having a common source node, had been previously established through said router, and (b) a quality of service guarantee corresponding to said existing packet flow is equivalent to a quality of service guarantee corresponding to said plurality of unlabeled packets having said common source address.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-17 | 2005-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |