Label handling in packet networks

Abstract

In a packet network for electronic transfer of data packets from one end station to another end station, there are, in the conventional way, a number of switch units. Each end station is connected to a switch unit, and the switch units perform the transfer of data packets along an established connection. The switch units are provided with switch ports on all of their connections. In these switch ports, a substitution is performed of labels of the data packets, both for data packets arriving to the switch unit and for data packets forwarded from the switch unit. The substitution prevents data packets belonging to different connections from having the same label and also offers distributed services in the data network. The data packet labels are constructed of a VPI field and a VCI field and, for data packets that arrive directly from or are sent directly to an end station, a GFC-field. In the substitution of the label of a data packet arriving to a switch unit, a table look-up is first performed in the associated switch port by way of the contents of the VPI field of the data packet. The result of the table look-up gives a direct information if the data packet belongs to a connection having a label comprising only a VPI field (VP connection), and then its contents are replaced by a record obtained in the table look-up. If the data packet has both a VPI field and a VCI field (VC connection), its VPI and VCI fields are replaced by new label portions obtained from a second table look-up.