Service Related Routing Method and Apparatus

Abstract

A method routes packets from a source to a destination across an IP network having a plurality of nodes (including the source and destination), and a plurality of network segments interconnecting the plurality of nodes. The source and destination are configured to use a given service. To those ends, the method receives information relating to the given service, and forms a path between the source and the destination. The path includes a) at least one intermediate node between the source and the destination and b) a plurality of specific network segments extending from the source to the destination. The plurality of specific network segments are a sub-set of the plurality of network segments. To form the path, the method assigns the plurality of specific network segments to the network path between the source and the destination as a function of the information relating to the given service.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of routing packets from a source to a destination across an IP network, the IP network having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of network segments interconnecting the plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes including the source and the destination, the source and destination configured to use a given service, the method comprising:
 receiving information relating to the given service; and   forming a path between the source and the destination, the path including a) at least one intermediate node between the source and the destination and b) a plurality of specific network segments extending from the source to the destination, the plurality of specific network segments being a sub-set of the plurality of network segments,   said forming comprising assigning the plurality of specific network segments to the network path between the source and the destination as a function of the information relating to the given service.   
     
     
         2 . The method as defined by  claim 1  wherein a first node and a second node of the plurality of nodes have a plurality of different network segments interconnecting the first node and the second node via two different routes, said assigning comprising selecting one of the plurality of network segments as a function of the information relating to the given service. 
     
     
         3 . The method as defined by  claim 2  wherein the plurality of different network segments may be the same type of network segments but different paths. 
     
     
         4 . The method as defined by  claim 1  wherein the given service includes one or more of a web service, an instant message service, a video service, and an audio delivery service. 
     
     
         5 . The method as defined by  claim 1  wherein the plurality of network segments includes a network. 
     
     
         6 . The method as defined by  claim 1  wherein the plurality of network segments includes a physical link. 
     
     
         7 . The method as defined by  claim 1  wherein said forming comprises:
 applying values to a set of the plurality of network segments between the source and destination as a function of information relating to different services, 
 said assigning comprising assigning the plurality of specific network segments to the network path between the source and the destination as a function of the values of the set of the plurality of network segments between the source and the destination. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method as defined by  claim 7  wherein said forming comprises executing a function using the values of the set of the plurality of network segments to produce a net path value. 
     
     
         9 . The method as defined by  claim 1  further comprising:
 establishing a stateful session between the source and destination using the path, traffic between the source and destination for this service and session traversing along the path in both directions. 
 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for routing packets from a source to a destination across an IP network, the IP network having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of network segments interconnecting the plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes including the source and the destination, the source and destination configured to use a given service, the apparatus comprising:
 an input for receiving information relating to the given service; and   a router operatively coupled with the input, the router being configured to form a path between the source and the destination, the path including a) at least one intermediate node between the source and the destination and b) a plurality of specific network segments extending from the source to the destination, the plurality of specific network segments being a sub-set of the plurality of network segments,   the router configured to assign the plurality of specific network segments to the network path between the source and the destination as a function of the information relating to the given service.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 10  wherein a first node and a second node of the plurality of nodes have a plurality of different network segments interconnecting the first node and the second node via two different routes, the router being configured to select one of the plurality of network segments as a function of the information relating to the given service. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 11  wherein the plurality of different network segments may be the same type of network segments but different paths. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 10  wherein the given service includes one or more of a web service, an instant message service, a video service, and an audio delivery service. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 10  wherein the router is configured to:
 apply values to a set of the plurality of network segments between the source and destination as a function of a plurality of information relating to different services, 
 the router also being configured to assign the plurality of specific network segments to the network path between the source and the destination as a function of the values of the set of the plurality of network segments between the source and the destination. 
 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 14  wherein the router is configured to execute a function using the values of the set of the plurality of network segments to produce a net path value. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as defined by  claim 10  wherein the router is configured to establish a stateful session between the source and destination using the path, traffic between the source and destination for this service and session traversing along the path in both directions. 
     
     
         17 . A computer program product for use on a computer system for routing packets from a source to a destination across an IP network, the IP network having a plurality of nodes and a plurality of network segments interconnecting the plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes including the source and the destination, the source and destination configured to use a given service, the computer program product comprising a tangible, non-transient computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:
 program code for receiving information relating to the given service; and   program code for forming a path between the source and the destination, the path including a) at least one intermediate node between the source and the destination and b) a plurality of specific network segments extending from the source to the destination, the plurality of specific network segments being a subset of the plurality of network segments,   said program code for forming comprising program code for assigning the plurality of specific network segments to the network path between the source and the destination as a function of the information relating to the given service.   
     
     
         18 . The computer program product as defined by  claim 17  wherein a first node and a second node of the plurality of nodes have a plurality of different network segments interconnecting the first node and the second node via two different routes, the program code for assigning comprising selecting one of the plurality of network segments as a function of the information relating to the given service. 
     
     
         19 . The computer program product as defined by  claim 18  wherein the plurality of different network segments may be the same type of network segments but different paths. 
     
     
         20 . The computer program product as defined by  claim 17  wherein the plurality of network segments includes a network. 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product as defined by  claim 17  wherein the plurality of network segments includes a physical link. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product as defined by  claim 17  wherein the program code for forming comprises:
 program code for applying values to a set of the plurality of network segments between the source and destination as a function of a plurality of information relating to different services, 
 the program code for assigning comprising program code for assigning the plurality of specific network segments to the network path between the source and the destination as a function of the values of the set of the plurality of network segments between the source and the destination. 
 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product as defined by  claim 22  wherein the program code for assigning the plurality of specific network segments comprises program code for executing a function using the values of the set of the plurality of network segments to produce a net path value. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product as defined by  claim 17  further comprising:
 program code for establishing a stateful session between the source and destination using the path, traffic between the source and destination for this service and session traversing along the path in both directions.