Methods, apparatus and data structures for segmenting customers using at least a portion of a layer 2 address header or bits in the place of a layer 2 address header
US6850495B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 31, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 1, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 31, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2463/102
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Limiting or controlling access to various services thereby performing a firewall function. An access router may permit or deny a packet based on at least a portion of a unique bit string (or context information) which replaced layer 2 header information (e.g., the layer 2 (e.g., MAC) address). Further, a particular quality of service may be indicated by at least a part of the unique bit string (or context information). The service provided to a group of customers, that group of customers being defined by at least a portion of the unique bit string (or context information), may be monitored. Multicast groups may be supported by checking at least a part of the unique bit string (or context information) to determine whether or not a customer associated with that port is permitted to join the multicast group.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.