Technique for implementing a multi-service packet and optical /TDM virtual private cross-connect

• US 20030147402A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Brahim, Hamid Ould
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,050 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.53
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0005 Switch and router aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0071 Provisions for the electrical-optical layer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0077 Labelling aspects, e.g. multiprotocol label switching [MPLS], G-MPLS, MPAS
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/0088 Signalling aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2011/009 Topology aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling

Abstract

A technique for implementing an automatic port discovery protocol in a virtual private network cross-connect is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized by a method comprising the steps of implementing a virtual private cross-connect for supporting a plurality sites associated with at least one virtual private network; providing at least one connection between the virtual private cross-connect and each site; and supporting a combination of at least two of layer-3, layer-2 and layer-1 services.

Claims

1. A method for implementing a multi-service packet and optical/time division multiplexing virtual private cross-connect, the method comprising the steps of:

implementing a virtual private cross-connect for supporting a plurality sites associated with at least one virtual private network;

providing at least one connection between the virtual private cross-connect and each site; and

supporting a combination of at least two of layer-3, layer-2 and layer-1 services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual private cross-connect supports at least one packet-based link wherein the packet-based link comprises one of IP, ATM, Frame Relay and Ethernet.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the layer-3 service comprises an Internet Protocol based network and wherein at least one connection associated with the layer-3 service is an Internet Protocol link.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one connection is provided at the virtual private cross-connect by at least one port associated with each connection wherein the at least one port supports at least one private address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the layer-2 service comprises Asynchronous Time Multiplexing and wherein at least one connection associated with the layer-2 service is a GMPLS link.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual private cross-connection provides flexible port topology determination.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual private cross-connection provides flexible on-demand connectivity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual private cross-connection provides private port auto-discovery.

9. A computer signal embodied in a carrier wave readable by a computing system and encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process performing the method recited in claim 1.

10. A system for implementing a multi-service packet and optical/time division multiplexing virtual private cross-connect, the system comprising:

a virtual private cross-connect for supporting a plurality sites associated with at least one virtual private network; and

at least one connection between the virtual private cross-connect and each site;

wherein the virtual private cross-connect supports a combination of at least two of layer-3, layer-2 and layer-1 services.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the layer-3 service comprises an Internet Protocol based network and wherein at least one connection associated with the layer-3 service is an Internet Protocol link.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one connection is provided at the virtual private cross-connect by at least one port associated with each connection wherein the at least one port supports at least one private address.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the layer-2 service comprises Asynchronous Time Multiplexing and wherein at least one connection associated with the layer-2 service is a GMPLS link.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the virtual private cross-connection provides flexible port topology determination.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the virtual private cross-connection provides flexible on-demand connectivity.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the virtual private cross-connection provides private port auto-discovery.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the virtual private cross-connect supports at least one packet-based link wherein the packet-based link comprises one of IP, ATM, Frame Relay and Ethernet.

18. An article of manufacture for implementing a multi-service packet and optical/time division multiplexing virtual private cross-connect, the article of manufacture comprising:

at least one processor readable carrier; and

instructions carried on the at least one carrier;

wherein the instructions are configured to be readable from the at least one carrier by at least one processor and thereby cause the at least one processor to operate so as to;

implement a virtual private cross-connect for supporting a plurality sites associated with at least one virtual private network;

provide at least one connection between the virtual private cross-connect and each site; and

support a combination of at least two of layer-3, layer-2 and layer-1 services.

19. The article of manufacturing of claim 18, wherein the layer-3 service comprises an Internet Protocol based network and wherein at least one connection associated with the layer-3 service is an Internet Protocol link.

20. The article of manufacturing of claim 18, wherein the layer-2 service comprises Asynchronous Time Multiplexing and wherein at least one connection associated with the layer-2 service is a GMPLS link.