ROUTING PACKETS WITH FAILED LABEL LOOKUP

Abstract: a networking device receives packets that may include a label header specifying a label for processing the packet based on a corresponding entry in a label table. when the label has a corresponding entry in the label table, the packet is processed according to the label entry. when the packet has a label but the label table does not have a corresponding label, rather than discarding the packet, the networking device converts the packet for forwarding according to a network address specified in the packet. label headers may be removed from the packet to prevent subsequent devices from incorrectly continuing label-based processing, enabling the packet to “exit” the overall path represented by the labels and processed as though the packet didn't arrive with a label header. when devices may lack intended labels, this permits continued processing of packets according to the network address information.

Inventor(s): Rajan Keshari, Anil Joshi, Basil Saji

CPC Classification: H04L69/22 (Parsing or analysis of headers)

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