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:
Aug. 04, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 03, 2003
Cheng-hong HU, San Ramon, CA (US);
Chin Yuan, San Ramon, CA (US);
Kuo-hui Liu, San Ramon, CA (US);
AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P., Reno, NV (US);
Abstract
The present disclosure is generally directed to systems and methods associated with data communications. In a particular embodiment, a method for use of multi-protocol labels switching (MPLS) encapsulation with control word communicated over a distributed computer network is disclosed. The method includes providing MPLS virtual circuit label with the control word associated with a data packet selected from one of a customer data packet and an OAM data packet, and communicating the MPLS packet with control word and the data packet over the distributed computer network. In another embodiment, a method of handling a data packet within a computer network is disclosed. The data packet is either an unknown unicast, multicast, or broadcast packet. The method includes encapsulating the packet into a multi-packet label switching label and a control word, the control word having a source site identity and a multi-cast identity; and distributing the packet to a plurality of sites within the computer network.