Virtual private network based upon multi-protocol label switching adapted to measure the traffic flowing between single rate zones
US7983284B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 21, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 21, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/14
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Virtual Private Network (VPN) dedicated to a customer using a physical transmission network based upon Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) technology including a plurality of Provider (P) devices and a plurality of Provider Edge (PE) devices, the customer owning at least two specific Customer Edge (CE) devices amongst a plurality of CE devices, a specific CE device being attached to a specific PE device and enabling the customer to gain access to any other CE device belonging to the same VPN, by the intermediary of PE devices to which are attached the CE devices. The VPN comprises several billing zones (10, 12, 14) being each defined by the application of a single flat rate. A PE device (18) belonging to each billing zone includes a virtual router (58, 60, 62) associated with each billing zone, two virtual routers being interconnected by a virtual circuit (38, 40, 42) transmitting all the traffic exchanged between the two associated billing zones so that the traffic flowing between the two billing zones can be measured and therefore precisely billed to the customer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.