Abstract: A method implemented in a network element (NE) configured to implement a cloud rendezvous point (CRP), the method comprising maintaining, at the CRP, a cloud switch point (CSP) database indicating a plurality of CSPs and indicating each virtual network attached to each CSP; receiving a register message indicating a first CSP network address and a first virtual network attached to the first CSP; and sending first report messages indicating the first CSP network address to each CSP in the CSP database attached to the first virtual network.

Abstract: An ingress node in a network including a receiver configured to receive a first request for a temporal label switched path (LSP) in the network. The first request indicates the ingress node, an egress node, a network constraint, and a scheduled time interval having a predetermined start time and a predetermined end time for the temporal LSP to carry traffic. The ingress node further includes a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to compute a shortest path in the network for the temporal LSP, wherein the path satisfies the network constraint in a shifted time interval when the request indicates that the time interval is elastic, and reserve a network resource for use during the shifted time interval for the temporal LSP in advance of the predetermined start time, wherein the network resource is reserved on a link extending from the ingress node to a next hop node on the path.

Abstract: A method implemented by network element (NE) configured as a local cloud switch point (CSP), the method comprising receiving a first post message from a remote CSP via a cloudcasting network, wherein the first post message indicates a remote virtual extensible network (VXN) identifier (ID) of a remote virtual network attached to the remote CSP, receiving a first data packet from a local virtual network attached to the local CSP, wherein the first data packet is associated with the remote virtual network, performing encapsulation on the first data packet to produce a first encapsulated data packet by selecting an encapsulation header for the first data packet based on the remote VXN ID and not based on network protocols of the local virtual network and the remote virtual network, and sending the first encapsulated data packet to the remote CSP.

Abstract: A network element (NE) in a network, comprising a memory configured to store time-based traffic engineering (TE) information associated with network resource reservations on a link attached to the NE in a series of time intervals each having a predetermined start time and a predetermined end time, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to reserve, at a first current time, a network resource for a temporal tunnel service (TTS) on the link to carry traffic during a scheduled time interval subsequent to the first current time, wherein the scheduled time interval comprises a scheduled start time and a scheduled end time, and update, at the first current time, the time-based TE information in the scheduled time interval according to the network resource reserved to produce a first updated TE information in the scheduled time interval.

Abstract: An ingress node in a network, comprising a receiver configured to receive a first request for a temporal label switched path (LSP) in the network, wherein the first request indicates a network constraint and a scheduled time interval having a predetermined start time and a predetermined end time for the temporal LSP to carry traffic, a processor coupled to the receiver and configured to compute a path in the network for the temporal LSP, wherein the path satisfies the network constraint in the scheduled time interval, and reserve a network resource for use during the scheduled time interval for the temporal LSP in advance of the predetermined start time, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to send a path request message to the next hop node to initiate set up of the temporal LSP in the network.

Abstract: An apparatus for zone routing comprising a transmitter coupled to one or more communication nodes in a network, wherein the communication nodes correspond to less than all edge nodes of the network, a receiver coupled to the communication nodes, and a processor coupled to the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the processor is configured to compute a first path for a label-switched path (LSP) through the network, wherein the first path extends from an ingress node of the edge nodes to an egress node of the edge nodes, obtain a second path that traverses through a first communication node of the communication nodes available to the egress node, and send, via the transmitter, a first LSP creation request message to the first communication node requesting creation of the LSP along the first path.

Abstract: In a first edge node coupled to a first site, a method of migrating control of at least one virtual private network (VPN) to a central controller, the method comprising taking over a native border gateway protocol (BGP) peer session with a second edge node coupled to a second site, using a first software agent: taking over and maintaining a BGP peer session with a second edge node connected to a second site, receiving a VPN label from the central controller and sending the VPN label to the second edge node via the BGP peer session, and receiving first VPN routes from the second site via the BGP peer session and sending the first VPN routes to the central controller.

Abstract: A method for internet traffic management, comprising receiving a request for a path set from an application at a network traffic controller, wherein the request contains an intended traffic destination endpoint, evaluating a plurality of network devices in a network, identifying a plurality of paths usable by the application to transmit traffic from the application to the intended traffic destination endpoint, including the plurality of paths in the path set, and sharing the path set with the application.

Abstract: In a central controller, a method for managing resources comprising sending a request to a node in a domain controlled by the central controller, wherein the request requests at least a portion of a resource of the node, receiving a response from the node, wherein the response contains information on the availability of the portion of the resource, and storing the information on the availability of the portion of the resource for use in establishing a multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) label switched path (LSP).

Abstract: A network node used to discover a topology-transparent zone (TTZ). In one example embodiment, the network node may obtain a TTZ identifier (ID) that is uniquely associated with the TTZ. Additionally, the network node may identify a link connected to a second network node that is also assigned the TTZ ID. In response to the command to initiate discovering the TTZ, the network node may generate a router information (RI) link-state advertisement (LSA) that comprises the TTZ ID and may distribute the RI LSA to the second network node using the link. In another example embodiment, the network node may not be configured as a TTZ edge node and may receive an RI LSA comprising the TTZ ID. The network node may store at least a portion of the information within the RI LSA and may flood the RI LSA using a plurality of links.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to transmit a multicast Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (mRSVP-TE) path request (PATH) message upstream, wherein the PATH message requests reservation of a backup Label Switched Path (LSP) to protect an active LSP configured to transmit multicast data. The disclosure also includes a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a network element (NE) to receive a multicast PATH message from a downstream node, wherein the NE acts as a Point of Local Repair (PLR) along an active LSP, wherein the active LSP is configured to transmit multicast data, and wherein the PATH message requests reservation of a backup LSP to protect the active LSP.

Abstract: A network node used to construct a topology-transparent zone (TTZ). The network node may obtain a TTZ identifier (ID) that is uniquely associated with a TTZ. Additionally, the network node may obtain a first link that couples the network node to a second network node that is also assigned the TTZ ID and a second link that couples the network node to a third network node that is not assigned the TTZ ID. The network node may generate a router information (RI) link-state advertisement (LSA) that indicates whether the network node is a TTZ edge node or a TTZ internal node and that indicates the TTZ associated with the TTZ. The network node may distribute the RI LSA to the second network node that is also assigned the TTZ ID using the first link.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to transmit a multicast Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (mRSVP-TE) path request (PATH) message upstream, wherein the PATH message requests reservation of a backup Label Switched Path (LSP) to protect an active LSP configured to transmit multicast data. The disclosure also includes a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a network element (NE) to receive a multicast PATH message from a downstream node, wherein the NE acts as a Point of Local Repair (PLR) along an active LSP, wherein the active LSP is configured to transmit multicast data, and wherein the PATH message requests reservation of a backup LSP to protect the active LSP.

Abstract: A method of avoiding routing interruption during transition to a topology transparent zone (TTZ) including virtualizing a path from an edge router to another edge router within the TTZ in a first direction without removing original links, wherein the original links are links from the edge router to its neighboring routers within the TTZ, receiving, by the edge router within the TTZ, a router link state advertisement (LSA) from the another edge router within the TTZ while the original links remain in place, wherein the LSA comprises a path from the another edge router to the edge router in a second direction different from the first direction, and removing, by the edge router within the TTZ, the original links after the LSA has been received from the another edge router and the virtualization of the path is complete.

Abstract: An Autonomous System domain comprising a topology transparent zone comprising a plurality of topology transparent zone nodes at least some of which are topology transparent zone edge nodes, wherein the topology transparent zone nodes are interconnected with one another via a plurality of internal links, and a plurality of neighboring external nodes connected to the topology transparent zone edge nodes via a plurality of external links, wherein no link state advertisements (LSAs) describing the internal links are distributed to the neighboring external nodes.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to transmit a backup Label Switched Path (LSP) multicast Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (mRSVP-TE) path request (PATH) message upstream, wherein the backup LSP PATH message requests reservation of a first backup LSP to protect a first primary LSP configured to transmit multicast data, and wherein the backup LSP PATH message is transmitted to support a facility mode one to many (1:N) fast reroute protocol.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising a memory, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to transmit a multicast Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (mRSVP-TE) path request (PATH) message upstream, wherein the PATH message requests reservation of a backup Label Switched Path (LSP) to protect an active LSP configured to transmit multicast data. The disclosure also includes a computer program product comprising computer executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium such that when executed by a processor cause a network element (NE) to receive a multicast PATH message from a downstream node, wherein the NE acts as a Point of Local Repair (PLR) along an active LSP, wherein the active LSP is configured to transmit multicast data, and wherein the PATH message requests reservation of a backup LSP to protect the active LSP.

Abstract: An ingress node in a Software Defined Network (SDN) comprising a receiver for receiving a data packet, a processor coupled to the receiver and further configured to obtain the data packet from the receiver in a transport protocol agnostic manner, and encapsulate the data packet in an SDN packet header, wherein the packet header comprises SDN flow-specific information provided by an SDN controller, and a transmitter coupled to the processor and further configured to transmit the encapsulated data packet across a single SDN toward an egress node in the SDN.

Abstract: In a source provider edge (PE) router, a method of forming a data multicast distribution tree (MDT) comprising the steps of monitoring a rate of multicast data traffic within a default MDT, determining that the rate exceeds a threshold, sending a join message to at least one receiver PE router in response to the determining, wherein the join message comprises a MDT number that identifies the data MDT, receiving a path message from the at least one receiver PE router and thereby forming the data MDT, and sending multicast data traffic via the data MDT.

Abstract: In a receiver provider edge (PE) router, a method for supporting protocol independent multicast source-specific mode (PIM-SSM) using multicast resource reservation protocol-traffic engineering (mRSVP-TE) comprising the steps of receiving a protocol independent multicast (PIM) join message, in response to receiving the PIM join message sending a path message to a source PE router, wherein the path message is a multicast resource reservation protocol-traffic engineering (mRSVP-TE) message, and sending the PIM join message to the source PE router, wherein the path message and the PIM join message trigger setup of a data multicast data tree (MDT), creating a PIM state, and receiving multicast data traffic via the data MDT using the PIM state.