Abstract: A Private Network-Network Interface (PNNI) network including interconnected nodes is defined as a single rerouting domain (“global domain”) and the global domain is further defined by multiple divided domains (“local domains”). Each of the local domains is defined to include multiple nodes that are included in the network. Connection recovery and path optimization in the global domain (the entire PNNI network) are performed in accordance with a global rerouting protocol. The global rerouting protocol is a modification of the standard Domain-Based Rerouting (DBR) protocol, by adding information elements of domain identifier, rerouting for the global domain. The DBR protocol does not support the connection recovery from a link failure between local domains (“inter-domains”) and the global path optimization. The global rerouting method is capable of connection recovery and path optimization outside of any rerouting local domains.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for establishing connections between network nodes across an MPLS domain. A data receive node transmits to a data transmit node the service label that the data receive node expects to receive embedded in packets originating from the data transmit node. Any packet that has this service label by the data receive node will therefore be treated and considered by this data receive node as originating from the data transmit node.