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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.:

US 7174388 B1

PDFFull Text
Expired
Date of Patent:
Feb. 06, 2007

Filed:

Dec. 12, 2005

System, device, and method for supporting virtual private networks in a label switched communication network

Applicants:

James V. Luciani, Concord, MA (US);

Andre N. Fredette, Groton, MA (US);

Bill Hawe, Pepperell, MA (US);

Inventors:

James V. Luciani, Concord, MA (US);

Andre N. Fredette, Groton, MA (US);

Bill Hawe, Pepperell, MA (US);

Assignee:

Nortel Networks Limited, , CA;

Attorney:

McGuinness + Manaras LLP

Primary Examiner:

Ayaz Sheikh

Assistant Examiner:

Christian LaForgia

Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G06F 15/173 (2006.01); H04L 12/28 (2006.01); H04L 12/56 (2006.01); G06F 9/00 (2006.01); G06F 15/16 (2006.01); G06F 17/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
Abstract

A system, device, and method for supporting virtual private networks in a label switched communication network utilizes an extended Next Hop Resolution Protocol in order to establish a label switched path for a particular virtual private network. Specifically, label information and a corresponding virtual private network identifier are carried in certain Next Hop Resolution Protocol messages. A label request and a corresponding virtual private network identifier is carried in Next Hop Resolution Protocol Resolution Request messages that are forwarded hop-by-hop by a number of devices along a forward path. Label mapping information and a corresponding virtual private network identifier are carried in Next Hop Resolution Protocol reply messages that are forwarded hop-by-hop by the devices in the forward path. In various embodiments of the invention, the label information and the corresponding virtual private network identifier may be carried in a type-length-value field, and the Next Hop Resolution Protocol reply messages may be Next Hop Resolution Protocol Resolution Reply messages or novel Next Hop Resolution Protocol Label Mapping messages.

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