Device for determining switching paths in a label switched communication network in the presence of selection attributes

Abstract

A device (D) dedicated to determining data stream switchpath(s) in a label switched network comprises a table (Tn) of correspondences between sets of service data and information data representative of at least two criteria, a descriptive structure (Tn) containing information data representative of the state of utilization and of the topology of the network, and a processing module (Pn) adapted i) to receive a path set-up request containing a set of service data associated with a stream to be switched, to determine in said table (Tn) the criteria associated with said set of service data associated with the stream, ii) to ensure the connectivity of the network nodes on the basis of information data stored in said descriptive structure (Tn), iii) to calculate from among the nodes of the network possible paths between a departure node (LER) and a destination node (LER) taking account of the criteria, and then to deduce an ideal solution from performances of the possible paths on the criteria, iv) to assign each possible path an interest value taking account of the ideal solution and then to classify said possible paths taking account of their respective interest values, and v) to select one of the classified possible paths and then to associate with the stream to be switched a label representative of the selected path so that said labeled stream is switched to the destination node.