Abstract: A method performed in a network element of a provider edge network to determine a downlink service path for a downlink packet. The method includes preserving an indication of the downlink service path while processing an uplink packet that has been transmitted from a subscriber end station toward a provider end station. The method also includes receiving the downlink packet at a line card of the network element. The downlink packet has been transmitted from the provider end station toward the subscriber end station. The method further includes determining, at the line card, the downlink service path for the downlink packet by using the indication of the downlink service path that was preserved while processing the uplink packet. The downlink service path is operable to identify a plurality of services and an order in which the plurality of services are to be performed on the downlink packet.

Abstract: A source edge router initiates point-to-point (P2P) label switched paths (LSPs) to multiple receiver edge routers, sends one or more PATH messages to one or more nodes downstream of the source edge router for the P2P LSPs, wherein each one of the set of PATH messages includes a same identifier of a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) LSP that includes a session object that contains a tunnel identifier and a P2MP identifier, and receives from each of those nodes downstream of the source edge router, a set of one or more RESV messages, wherein each one of the received RESV messages received from a respective node downstream of the source edge router includes the identifier of the P2MP LSP and a label allocated by that node downstream of the source edge router.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing point-to-multipoint label switch paths (LSPs) in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is described. In one embodiment, a point-to-multipoint LSP is built in a MPLS network by using Resource Reservation Protocol Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) to signal the point-to-multipoint LSP as separate point-to-point LSPs and to merge the separate point-to-point LSPs into the point-to-multipoint LSP.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing point-to-multipoint label switch paths (LSPs) in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is described. In one embodiment, a point-to-multipoint LSP is built in a MPLS network by using Resource Reservation Protocol Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) to signal the point-to-multipoint LSP as separate point-to-point LSPs and to merge the separate point-to-point LSPs into the point-to-multipoint LSP.

Abstract: Each application executing on an application server uses an extended version of the Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF) language to define an application-specific rule set. The application server also includes a Just-In-Time compiler to compile the BPF rule set. The compiled rule set is downloaded to a Packet Forwarding Entity (PFE) in the network, and used to control how the PFE steers data packets generated by the application through a communications network.

Abstract: An encoding module generates metadata descriptions for unique combinations of subset of fields of data structures that define for the receiver how to decode data in the corresponding subset of fields of that data structure included in messages; generates a unique metadata description identification for each different metadata description; includes metadata descriptions in the messages as well as the corresponding metadata description identifications when the receiver has not previously received those metadata descriptions.

Abstract: A method, performed in a network element having a control card and a plurality of linecards of processing a plurality of different types of connection setup requests. A latency of processing each of the plurality of the different types of the connection setup requests is determined. A number of connection setup requests to be initiated to be processed by the control card is dynamically adjusted based on the determined latencies of processing each of the plurality of the different types of the connection setup requests. Other methods and network elements are also disclosed.

Abstract: The number of connection setup request packets that are accepted for processing by a network element are dynamically adjusted based on the run time capacity of the network element. The number of accepted connection setup request packets that can be initiated for processing are dynamically modified based on the processor utilization and average latency of completion of processing the connection setup requests. The network element can apply a scheduling policy to those connection setup request packets to differentiate the processing treatment of different types of connection setup requests.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing point-to-multipoint label switch paths (LSPs) in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is described. In one embodiment, a point-to-multipoint LSP is built in a MPLS network by using Resource Reservation Protocol Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) to signal the point-to-multipoint LSP as separate point-to-point LSPs and to merge the separate point-to-point LSPs into the point-to-multipoint LSP.

Abstract: The number of connection setup request packets that are accepted for processing by a network element are dynamically adjusted based on the run time capacity of the network element. The number of accepted connection setup request packets that can be initiated for processing are dynamically modified based on the processor utilization and average latency of completion of processing the connection setup requests. The network element can apply a scheduling policy to those connection setup request packets to differentiate the processing treatment of different types of connection setup requests.

Abstract: An apparatus for exchanging data in a distributed system with constrained resources without symmetric metadata knowledge between senders and receivers. The sender includes an encoding module, which when encoding messages for a receiver, is operative to perform the following: generate metadata descriptions for unique combinations of subset of fields of data structures, where each metadata description defines for the receiver how to decode data in the corresponding subset of fields of that data structure included in messages and does not include the data currently in those corresponding subset of field; generate a unique metadata description identification for each different metadata description; include metadata descriptions in the messages as well as the corresponding metadata description identifications to the receiver that has not previously received those metadata descriptions, whereby the messages are encoded without per field overhead.

Abstract: The number of connection setup request packets that are accepted for processing by a network element are dynamically adjusted based on the run time capacity of the network element. The number of accepted connection setup request packets that can be initiated for processing are dynamically modified based on the processor utilization and average latency of completion of processing the connection setup requests. The network element can apply a scheduling policy to those connection setup request packets to differentiate the processing treatment of different types of connection setup requests.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing point-to-multipoint label switch paths (LSPs) in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is described. In one embodiment, a point-to-multipoint LSP is built in a MPLS network by using Resource Reservation Protocol Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) to signal the point-to-multipoint LSP as separate point-to-point LSPs and to merge the separate point-to-point LSPs into the point-to-multipoint LSP.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing point-to-multipoint label switch paths (LSPs) in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is described. In one embodiment, a point-to-multipoint LSP is built in a MPLS network by using Resource Reservation Protocol Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) to signal the point-to-multipoint LSP as separate point-to-point LSPs and to merge the separate point-to-point LSPs into the point-to-multipoint LSP.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing point-to-multipoint label switch paths (LSPs) in a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network is described. In one embodiment, a point-to-multipoint LSP is built in a MPLS network by using Resource Reservation Protocol Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) to signal the point-to-multipoint LSP as separate point-to-point LSPs and to merge the separate point-to-point LSPs into the point-to-multipoint LSP.