Cisco Systems

A technique dynamically enforces inter-domain policy and quality of service (QoS) for Traffic Engineering (TE) Label Switched Paths (LSPs) between a local domain and a remote domain in a computer network. According to the enforcement technique, a Path Computation Element (PCE) of the local domain receives a path computation request for an inter-domain TE-LSP from the remote domain, and triggers a policy verification procedure at a Policy Decision Point (PDP) of the local domain. The PDP determines whether the requested TE-LSP is allowed based on configured policy for the remote domain and previously established TE-LSPs from the remote domain. In the event the requested TE-LSP is allowed and subsequently established, a Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) along the TE-LSP, e.g., a border router of the local domain or a dedicated server, updates the PDP with the state of the TE-LSP. In response to the update, the PDP returns a QoS template indicating configured QoS guidelines the PEP must enforce for that TE-LSP. If the TE-LSP is eventually torn down, the PEP again updates the PDP with the state of the TE-LSP.

PCT/US2006/027809