The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 26, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 17, 1999
Kristian Rauhala, San Diego, CA (US);
Nokia Networks Oy, Espoo, FI;
Abstract
The invention relates to connection-oriented packet-based telecommunication networks such as ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and particularly to route optimization in such networks. A network node ( ) on the route adds to a packet flow a special packet comprising a unique code which the network node ( ) locally uses for identifying the special packet and for associating the special packet to a particular formed connection. If there is a loop on the path (2,BTS ) the special packet added to the packet flow returns back to the same network node. When the network node detects that the special packet provided with the unique code returns back, it may conclude that on the path of the connection to which the unique code is associated to, there is a loop that should be eliminated. Thereafter the network node may internally switch an optimal path (1,4,BTS ) bypassing the detected loop (2,BTS ). Furthermore, the network node preferably releases the loop in a manner characteristic of the network. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention also the elimination of the detected loop is based on the use of the special packet.