Network for exchanging packet signals via a pooled connection

• US 20030128666A1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lefebvre, Pascal Albert Emile
• Granted Patent: US 8,149,845 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/46 Interconnection of networks

Abstract

Networks for exchanging packet signals between first network-units (1) like access providers and/or access multiplexers coupled to terminals and second network-units (2) like service providers and/or gateways coupled to further networks can be improved by providing a network with a pooled connection (3) having a capacity smaller than a sum of all terminal-capacities, which sum equals the capacity necessary in case all terminals communicate via the network at the same time. This pooled connection (3) is located between said first (1) and second (2) network-unit and is managed by a manager (23) in said second network-unit (2). By providing a first network-unit (1) with a router (12) managed by a manager (13), control traffic can be routed transparently to said second network-unit (2). By providing a manager (23) in the second network-unit (2) with a controller (28), the capacity of said pooled connection (3) can be controlled and guarded.

Claims

1. Network for exchanging packet signals between network-units (1,2) and comprising a first network-unit (1) coupled to terminals and a second network-unit (2) coupled to said first network-unit (1) and to a further network, characterised in that said network comprises a pooled connection (3) between both network-units (1,2), with a capacity of said pooled connection (3) being smaller than a sum of all terminal-capacities, and with said second network-unit (2) comprising a manager (23) for managing said exchanging.

2. Network according to claim 1, characterised in that said first network-unit (1) comprises a router (12) for routing control packet signals comprising control information originating from terminals to said second network-unit (2).

3. Network according to claim 2, characterised in that said first network-unit (1) comprises a manager (13) coupled to said router (12) and comprising a receiver (15) for receiving said control information and a detector (17) coupled to said receiver (15) for detecting said control information for in response to said detecting managing the router (12).

4. Network according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that said manager (23) in said second network-unit (2) comprises a receiver (25) for receiving control packet signals from the first network-unit (1) and a detector (27) coupled to said receiver (25) for detecting these control packet signals and a sender (26) coupled to said detector (27) for setting up connections via said further network in response to said control packet signals.

5. Network according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterised in that said manager (23) in said second network-unit (2) comprises a controller (28) for controlling the capacity of said pooled connection (3).

6. Network according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, characterised in that data packet signals comprising data information originating from and/or destined for said terminals flow via said pooled connection (3).

7. First network-unit (1) for use in a network for exchanging packet signals between network-units (1,2) and comprising said first network-unit (1) coupled to terminals and a second network-unit (2) coupled to said first network-unit (1) and to a further network, characterised in that said first network-unit (1) comprises an in/output to be coupled to the second network-unit (2) via a pooled connection (3) between both network-units (1,2), with a capacity of said pooled connection (3) being smaller than a sum of all terminal-capacities, and with said second network-unit (2) comprising a manager (23) for managing said exchanging.

8. Second network-unit (2) for use in a network for exchanging packet signals between network-units (1,2) and comprising a first network-unit (1) coupled to terminals and said second network-unit (2) coupled to said first network-unit (1) and to a further network, characterised in that said second network-unit (2) comprises an in/output to be coupled to the first network-unit (1) via a pooled connection (3) between both network-units (1,2), with a capacity of said pooled connection (3) being smaller than a sum of all terminal-capacities, and with said second network-unit (2) comprising a manager (23) for managing said exchanging.

9. Method for exchanging packet signals between network-units (1,2) in a network comprising a first network-unit (1) coupled to terminals and a second network-unit (2) coupled to said first network-unit (1) and to a further network, characterised in that said method comprises the steps of exchanging packet signals via a pooled connection (3) between both network-units (1,2) and of managing said exchanging in said second network-unit (2), with a capacity of said pooled connection (3) being smaller than a sum of all terminal-capacities.

10. Processor program product to be run via a network-unit'"'"'s processor for exchanging packet signals between network-units (1,2) in a network comprising a first network-unit (1) coupled to terminals and a second network-unit (2) coupled to said first network-unit (1) and to a further network, characterised in that said processor program product comprises the function of exchanging packet signals via a pooled connection (3) between both network-units (1,2), which exchanging is managed in said second network-unit (2), with a capacity of said pooled connection (3) being smaller than a sum of all terminal-capacities.