Model-based virtual networking

US9379946B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC · US

Inventors

• Anatoliy Panasyuk · Bellevue, US
• Dharshan Rangegowda · Seattle, US
• Ram Viswanathan · Plano, US
• Anthony S. Chavez · Bothell, US
• Jiazhen Chen · Zhejiang, CN
• Morgan Asher Brown · Bellevue, US
• Hasan Alkhatib · Saratoga, US
• Geoffrey Outhred · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 12, 2009
• Grant date: Jun 28, 2016
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04L41/40
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Architecture that facilitates the virtual specification of a connection between physical endpoints. A network can be defined as an abstract connectivity model expressed in terms of the connectivity intent, rather than any specific technology. The connectivity model is translated into configuration settings, policies, firewall rules, etc., to implement the connectivity intent based on available physical networks and devices capabilities. The connectivity model defines the connectivity semantics of the network and controls the communication between the physical nodes in the physical network. The resultant virtual network may be a virtual overlay that is independent of the physical layer. Alternatively, the virtual overlay can also include elements and abstracts of the physical network(s). Moreover, automatic network security rules (e.g., Internet Protocol security-IPSec) can be derived from the connectivity model of the network.