Multiprotocol label switching label distribution method, a related first multiprotocol label switching network element and a related second multiprotocol label switching network element

摘要

The present invention relates to a Label distribution method for distributing a label between a first Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network element and a second peering MPLS network element in an MPLS network. The first MPLS network element adds an unused label to the first data-packet DP 1 of the at least one data-packet of the single flow before forwarding the at least one data-packet of the single flow, the unused label not yet associated with or used for identifying a context of said single flow. The second MPLS network element subsequently determines a context for the unknown label retrieved from the data-packets, using a predetermined algorithm. The second MPLS element then couples the unused label and the context determined using the predetermined algorithm.