Technique for coupling entities via virtual ports
US7586915B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 23, 2003 |
| Grant date | Sep 8, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 26, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/4645
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A technique transfers data between geographically dispersed entities belonging to a virtual-local-area network (VLAN). According to the technique, geographically dispersed entities communicate via software-defined virtual ports that “appear” as physical ports to the entities. Each virtual port, in turn, is associated with one or more connections wherein each connection may be associated with one or more VLANs. Data generated on a particular VLAN that is destined for a remote entity is forwarded to a virtual port which, in turn, transfers the data to the remote entity over the connection associated with the VLAN. Moreover, state is maintained at each virtual port for each connection, thereby enabling the virtual ports to support various protocols that operate with physical ports.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.