Methods and systems for a distributed provider edge
US7116665B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 3, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 27, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/655
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods and Systems are provided for a distributed Provider Edge (PE). A single Virtual Routing and Forwarding device (VRF) is associated with a single customer site. The VRF includes a single routing table (RIB) and a single forwarding table (FIB). The VRF also includes a plurality of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Protocol Instance Modules (VRP), where each VRP is associated with a different VPN from the customer site. Each VRP accesses the RIB directly and the FIB indirectly to acquiring addressing/routing information for a received data packet. Moreover, each VRP uses a data plane of the VRP to communicate the data packets to a PE backbone device. In turn, the PE backbone device uses the data plane to communicate with each of the VRPs, and the PE backbone device communicates with one or more tunnels.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.