Using tunneling to enhance remote LAN connectivity
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for packet-switched communications, comprising:
- a first input for receiving from a local area network original data packets which implement a communication protocol that permits a plurality of users to conduct a plurality of respectively corresponding communication sessions on the local area network simultaneously;
a tunneling apparatus coupled to said input for encapsulating said original data packets to produce respectively corresponding encapsulated data packets; and
an output coupled to said tunneling apparatus for outputting said encapsulated data packets for transport through a packet-switched network.
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Abstract
The address translation capabilities of packet-switched mobile networks are exploited to achieve bidirectional LAN communications therethrough. A multi-dash user VPN can be provided by encapsulating a multi-user LAN communication protocol for traversal of a packet-switched network. By encapsulating a commonly available multi-user LAN communication protocol, for example ethernet, remote LAN connectivity can be extended without requiring any host reconfiguration.
88 Citations
44 Claims
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1. An apparatus for packet-switched communications, comprising:
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a first input for receiving from a local area network original data packets which implement a communication protocol that permits a plurality of users to conduct a plurality of respectively corresponding communication sessions on the local area network simultaneously;
a tunneling apparatus coupled to said input for encapsulating said original data packets to produce respectively corresponding encapsulated data packets; and
an output coupled to said tunneling apparatus for outputting said encapsulated data packets for transport through a packet-switched network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for packet-switched communications, comprising:
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a first packet-switched network including an interface for permitting wireless access thereto;
a second packet-switched network coupled to said first packet-switched network;
a tunneling apparatus coupled to said first and second packet-switched networks for encapsulating original data packets to produce encapsulated data packets and for de-encapsulating encapsulated data packets to produce original data packets, wherein said original data packets support communication between first and second communication devices; and
said first and second packet-switched networks cooperable with said tunneling apparatus for transporting said encapsulated data packets through said first and second packet-switched networks. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for packet-switched communications, comprising:
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an input for receiving from a packet-switched network encapsulated data packets that have been used to transport original data packets through the packet-switched network, wherein said original data packets implement a communication protocol that permits a plurality of users to conduct a plurality of respectively corresponding communication sessions on the local area network simultaneously;
a tunneling apparatus coupled to said input for de-encapsulating said encapsulated data packets to obtain the respectively corresponding original data packets; and
an output coupled to said tunneling apparatus for outputting said original data packets to the local area network. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for packet-switched communications, comprising:
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a first packet-switched network including a wireless interface for permitting a first local area network to access said first packet-switched network;
a second packet-switched network coupled to said first packet-switched network, said second packet-switched network having an interface for permitting communication with a second local area network; and
a data transport path for permitting said first and second local area networks to communicate with one another via said first and second packet-switched networks, said data transport path including a portion of said first packet-switched network and a portion of said second packet-switched network. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method of packet-switched communication, comprising:
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receiving from a local area network original data packets which implement a communication protocol that permits a plurality of users to conduct a plurality of respectively corresponding communication sessions on local area network simultaneously;
encapsulating the original data packets to produce respectively corresponding encapsulated data packets; and
transporting the encapsulated data packets through a packet-switched network.
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30. An apparatus for packet-switched communications, comprising:
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an input for receiving tunnel packets from a first packet-switched network, each of said tunnel packets including a tunnel header and a payload, each said tunnel header defining a tunnel through which said payloads are transported, each said payload including substantive information for communication from a source communication device to a destination communication device, each said payload further including identification information for identifying the source communication device and the destination communication device, each said tunnel header including first information indicative of an identity of a first tunnel apparatus which produced said tunnel header and second information indicative of an identity of a second tunnel apparatus which is to receive the corresponding tunnel packet;
a translator coupled to said input for modifying one of said first and second information in said tunnel headers to produce respectively corresponding modified tunnel packets; and
an output coupled to said translator for outputting said modified tunnel packets for transport through a second packet-switched network. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A method for packet-switched communication, comprising:
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receiving tunnel packets from a first packet-switched network, each of said tunnel packets including a tunnel header and a payload, each said tunnel header defining a tunnel through which said payloads are transported, each said payload including substantive information for communication from a source communication device to a destination communication device, each said payload further including identification information for identifying the source communication device and the destination communication device, each said tunnel header including first information indicative of an identity of a first tunnel apparatus which produced said tunnel header and second information indicative of an identity of a second tunnel apparatus which is to receive the corresponding tunnel packet;
modifying one of said first and second information in said tunnel headers to produce respectively corresponding modified tunnel packets; and
transporting said modified tunnel packets through a second packet-switched network.
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Specification