Abstract: A method, apparatus and computer program product for determining a preferred backup path to protect a point-to-multipoint label switching path is presented. A point-to-multipoint backup path is computed for each node located upstream from a branching node, the backup path originating at the node and including a set of nodes downstream from said branching node. A cost metric associated with each backup path is determined, as is a distance metric associated with each backup path. From the cost and distance metrics associated with each backup path a preferred backup path is selected using a distributed algorithm.

Abstract: A technique triggers packing of path computation requests (PCRs) for traffic engineering (TE) label switched paths (LSPs) that are sent from one or more label-switched routers (LSRs) to a path computation element (PCE) of a computer network. According to the novel technique, incoming PCRs are packed into sets in response to a certain event, and one or more TE-LSPs (paths) are computed for each PCR of a particular set based on the PCRs of that set. Specifically, the PCE detects an event in the network (“network event”) indicating that an increase in the number of incoming PCRs has occurred, or that an increase is likely to occur due to, e.g., a change in a network element. Once the net-work event has been detected, the PCE packs the incoming PCRs into configured-length sets, such as, e.g., for a specified time interval or a certain number of PCRs.

Abstract: Systems and methods for computing the paths of MPLS Traffic Engineering LSPs across Autonomous System and/or area boundaries. A distributed path computation algorithm exploits multiple path computation elements (PCEs) to develop a virtual shortest path tree (VSPT) resulting in computation of an end-to-end optimal (shortest) path. In some implementations, the VSPT is computed recursively across all the Autonomous Systems and/or areas between the head-end and tail-end of the Traffic Engineering LSP.

Abstract: Systems and methods for assuring consistency between MPLS forwarding and control planes. The control plane can be made aware of forwarding plane anomalies and can respond appropriately. One particular application is assuring consistency between forwarding and control planes of a Fast Reroute backup tunnels used to protect an MPLS Traffic Engineering LSP from a link and/or a node failure. When a backup tunnel forwarding failure is detected, the control plane can react by, for example, rerouting the backup tunnel and/or sending a notification to the operator or head-end of the protected Traffic Engineering LSP.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of forwarding data in a data communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and links therebetween, each link having an associated usage cost and a load capacity. A forwarding node identifies a lowest cost route, comprising one or more links, to a destination node. If a plurality of lowest cost routes is identified, then the forwarding node allocates data for forwarding along each of the lowest cost routes dependent on a relative load capacity of that route.

Abstract: A mechanism to alleviate bandwidth fragmentation in a network employing path computation element(s) to place MPLS Traffic Engineering tunnels. One application is a multiple Autonomous System or multiple area network employing distributed computation of MPLS Traffic Engineering LSPs. A particular path computation element may determine that bandwidth fragmentation is present based on monitoring of path computation failures where desired paths are blocked due to bandwidth constraints. In response to the detected bandwidth fragmentation condition, the path computation element floods a routing notification within its Autonomous System or area. Nodes respond to the routing notification by requesting reoptimization of their own previously requested Traffic Engineering LSPs allowing the path computation element an opportunity to alleviate bandwidth fragmentation.

Abstract: Systems and methods for preemption of Traffic Engineering LSPs such that preemption decisions are made in a coordinated fashion along the path of a new LSP and computation of a new path for a preempted LSP can take advantage of knowledge of newly unavailable links. The efficiency of the preemption mechanism is greatly increased and the undesirable effects of heterogeneous preemption decisions are limited. The amount of signaling may also be significantly reduced. In one implementation, these advantages are achieved by exploiting an upstream preemption feedback mechanism that uses an incremental timer to delay preemption decisions until feedback is available.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for performing a shortest path first network routing path determination in a data communications network based in part on information about links that are associated as shared risk link groups. Micro-loops are avoided in computing shortest path first trees by considering whether links are within shared risk link groups. In a first approach, for each link state packet in a link state database, listed adjacencies are removed if the link between the node originating the LSP and the reported adjacency belongs to a shared risk link group for which one component (local link) is known as down, and a shortest path first computation is then performed. In a second approach, during the SPT computation and after having added a first node to a path, each neighboring node is added to a tentative tree if and only if, a link between the first node and the neighboring node does not belong to a shared risk link group for which one component (local link) is known as down.

Abstract: Local rerouting around a failed component link of a link bundle is provided by immediately substituting one or more other component links of the same link bundle. The substitution of component links is performed at the point of failure without signaling to other nodes. This minimizes signaling traffic particularly when large numbers of LSPs are impacted by a single component link failure. Also, since LSP repair can be accomplished very quickly, traffic disruption is minimized.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the ratio of incondensables in steam or other gaseous mixture. The mixture is led from a condenser through a transparent tube exposed to a light beam having a diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the tube, such that the beam is reflected by incondensable bubbles in the mixture but not by condensed droplets. A photoelectric sensor assembly is located in position to receive the light beam. The trajectory of the beam, and hence the signal from the sensor, is determined by whether the beam is intercepted by an incondensable bubble or a condensed droplet.