US 12,206,572 B2
Performance measurement, telemetry, and OAM in MPLS networks using entropy labels
Rakesh Gandhi, Stittsville (CA); and Clarence Filsfils, Brussels (BE)
Assigned to Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed by Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US)
Filed on Sep. 25, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/372,587.
Application 18/372,587 is a continuation of application No. 17/565,823, filed on Dec. 30, 2021, granted, now 11,799,757.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/237,656, filed on Aug. 27, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/227,446, filed on Jul. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0022500 A1, Jan. 18, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04L 45/12 (2022.01); H04L 43/0852 (2022.01); H04L 45/50 (2022.01); H04L 12/46 (2006.01)
CPC H04L 45/123 (2013.01) [H04L 43/0852 (2013.01); H04L 45/50 (2013.01); H04L 12/4633 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method comprising:
receiving a packet that is to be sent along an equal-cost multipath (ECMP) route;
encapsulating the packet with a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) header that includes a special purpose label;
based at least in part on a determination that a monitoring operation is to be performed, altering the special purpose label of the MPLS header to include an indication of the monitoring operation to be performed; and
sending the packet including the MPLS header along the ECMP route.