Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

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. Thus, since layer two switching utilizes the appended label instead of the packet header for conveying a labeled packet, the packet header may be partially or completely removed. The header removal field is used to inform routers utilized for a labeled packet flow which portions of the subsequently conveyed packet headers will be removed and which portions will be present.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim