| 摘要 |
The invention relates to a communications network (MPLS-D) with two or more network nodes (ISR1 to ISR3) each provided with a Layer 2 switching element (SW1 to SW3) and a switch controller (SC1 to SC3) for controlling the respective Layer 2 switching element (SW1 to SW3), to such a network node, to such a switch controller, and to a method of supporting shortcuts through such network nodes. The switch controller (SC1) is composed of several independent modules, namely a shortcut control module, at least one trigger module, and at least one protocol module. If respective predetermined criteria are satisfied, the at least one trigger module initiates the assignment of a shortcut, which is formed by a direct Layer 2 connection, to a Layer 3 connection. The shortcut control module communicates with the respective Layer 2 switching element (SW1), initiating the assignment of data packets to shortcuts by marking data packets with a label assigned to the respective shortcut, and controlling the switching of shortcuts through the respective Layer 2 switching element (SW1). The at least one protocol module distributes labels to switch controllers (SC2, SC3) of other network nodes (ISR2, ISR3) of the communications network (MPLS-D) and thereby coordinates the assignment of labels to shortcuts. |
