Abstract: Described is a node comprising a switch fabric and first and second ingress modules. The first ingress module receives a first stream of packets from a first physical path through the network; forwards a copy of the first stream of packets to an intermodule communication channel; selects packets from the first stream of packets and a copy of a second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric. The second ingress module receives the second stream of packets from a second physical path through the network; forwards the copy of the second stream of packets to the intermodule communication channel; and selects packets from the copy of the first stream of packets and the second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric based on sequence numbers in the packets.

Abstract: Described is a node comprising a switch fabric and first and second ingress modules. The first ingress module receives a first stream of packets from a first physical path through the network; forwards a copy of the first stream of packets to an intermodule communication channel; selects packets from the first stream of packets and a copy of a second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric. The second ingress module receives the second stream of packets from a second physical path through the network; forwards the copy of the second stream of packets to the intermodule communication channel; and selects packets from the copy of the first stream of packets and the second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric based on sequence numbers in the packets.

Abstract: Described is a node comprising a switch fabric and first and second ingress modules. The first ingress module receives a first stream of packets from a first physical path through the network; forwards a copy of the first stream of packets to an intermodule communication channel; selects packets from the first stream of packets and a copy of a second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric. The second ingress module receives the second stream of packets from a second physical path through the network; forwards the copy of the second stream of packets to the intermodule communication channel; and selects packets from the copy of the first stream of packets and the second stream of packets for forwarding to the switch fabric based on sequence numbers in the packets.

Abstract: Described are a system and method for providing protection switching and bandwidth sharing in a network. A first endpoint device adds a sequence number to each packet to produce a stream of numbered packets and provides a plurality of packet streams from the stream of numbered packets. The first endpoint device forwards a first packet stream over a first path and a second packet stream over a second path separate from the first path. In one embodiment, the packet streams are identical. In another embodiment, the packet streams are different. A second endpoint device receives the first packet stream over the first path and the second packet stream over the second path. From the packet streams, the second endpoint device determines whether each packet in the packet streams is to be included in an output packet stream based on that packet's sequence number.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for traffic and subscriber service differentiation using multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) creates different service tiers, where each service tier is associated with a unique combination of resource class (color) and hold priority. Enhanced MPLS devices separate traffic into separate queues based upon service tier. Standard MPLS devices are typically configured to separate traffic for different service tiers under normal operating conditions. Enhanced MPLS devices signal service tier using a predetermined signaling protocol such as RSVP-TE or CR-LDP.

Abstract: A system, device, and method for traffic and subscriber service differentiation using multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) creates different service tiers, where each service tier is associated with a unique combination of resource class (color) and hold priority. Enhanced MPLS devices separate traffic into separate queues based upon service tier. Standard MPLS devices are typically configured to separate traffic for different service tiers under normal operating conditions. Enhanced MPLS devices signal service tier using a predetermined signaling protocol such as RSVP-TE or CR-LDP.