Method and apparatus for load balancing over virtual network links
US7580417B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 7, 2006 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 5, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L47/125
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Techniques for load balancing network traffic over virtual point-to-point data links at a data-link layer include determining a particular group of virtual point-to-point data links that reach a particular local area network of one or more network nodes. A particular data-link address for a particular node of the particular local area network is associated with each virtual point-to-point data link of the particular group. When a data packet is received that includes data that indicates the particular data-link address as a destination; one virtual point-to-point data link of the group is determined to balance traffic among the group. The data packet is sent only over the one virtual point-to-point data link. These techniques enable virtual point-to-point data links through two or more intermediate network nodes, such as a pair of provider edge nodes, to be bundled for load balancing purposes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.