Point-to-point protocol with a signaling channel
US6118785A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 7, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 7, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/2874
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A communication protocol designed for managing the communication between peers, such as the point-to-point protocol, includes a signaling channel in frames formatted according to the communication protocol. The signaling channel is utilized by intermediate devices in the access provider network, such as central office switches or other concentration points in the network to facilitate the management of the flow of data traffic in the access providers network. The signaling channel is identified in the intermediate devices and in the end stations, such as customer premises equipment or remote access servers, by a particular value in the Protocol field of the PPP encapsulation format for example. The intermediate device is configured to monitor the protocol field, and when the particular value is recognized, to process the frame at the intermediate device. Likewise, the end station is configured to recognize the particular value in the protocol field, and to process the packet received according to the signaling channel function specified by that particular value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.