Apparatus and method for providing a network termination point

• US 20050238049A1
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Published: 10/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Delregno, Christopher N.
• Granted Patent: US 8,340,102 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2889 Multiservice, e.g. MSAN
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/10 Routing in connection-oriented networks, e.g. X.25 or ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/602 Multilayer or multiprotocol switching, e.g. IP switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

Apparatus and method for providing a termination point for service emulation instances in an access network is provided. In an embodiment, the service emulation instances are implemented utilizing, for example, pseudowires. Communications to and from the access network are aggregated and transmitted via one or more pseudowires to a service emulation instance terminator. The service emulation instance terminator converts the traffic to its native form and, if necessary, converts the traffic to a different type of format or service. The service emulation instance terminator then frames the traffic for the appropriate type of service and transmits the traffic to the service edge. Traffic received from the service is removed prepended with a pseudowire label and aggregated with other traffic. The aggregated traffic is transmitted to the customer via the access network. If necessary, an interworking function may convert the traffic from one type of service to another type of service. Further, functionalities of equipment such as frame relay switching or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching may be realized in the service emulation instance terminator.

Claims

1. A network device for supporting transport of an information flow to a plurality of core networks, the device comprising:

a first pseudowire endpoint configured to receive the information flow;

a second pseudowire endpoint in communication with one of the core networks;

a switching module configured to interconnect the first pseudowire endpoint and the second pseudowire endpoint for transport of a portion of the information flow to the one core network; and

a framer coupled to the switching module and configured to convert another portion of the information flow into a traffic flow that is native to another one of the core networks.

2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a user-network interface (UNI) coupled to the first pseudowire endpoint and configured to specify the portion and the another portion of the information flow to the switching module.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the switching module provides frame relay switching or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the information flow is included in an aggregated flow originating from an aggregation point within a customer premise, and the aggregation point concentrates a plurality of flows from a corresponding plurality of customer networks.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the first pseudowire endpoint interfaces a data link layer switch coupled to the aggregation point.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the framer outputs a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) data stream to the other core network.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the framer outputs an Ethernet-type data stream to the other core network.

8. A method for supporting transport of an information flow to a plurality of core networks, the method comprising:

receiving the information flow at a first pseudowire endpoint;

switching a portion of the information flow from the first pseudowire endpoint to a second pseudowire endpoint coupled to one of the core networks; and

converting another portion of the information flow into a traffic flow that is native to another one of the core networks.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein the switching step provides frame relay switching or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein the information flow originates from an aggregation point within a customer premise, and the aggregation point concentrates a plurality of flows from a corresponding plurality of customer networks.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the first pseudowire endpoint interfaces a data link layer switch coupled to the aggregation point.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein the native traffic flow is a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) data stream.

13. A method according to claim 8, wherein the native traffic flow is an Ethernet-type data stream.

14. A network switch for transporting an information flow to a service emulation instance terminator, the switch comprising:

an input port configured to receive the information flow;

a Layer 2 switching engine configured to switch the information flow; and

an output port configured to forward the information flow to the service emulation instance terminator, wherein the service emulation instance terminator includes,

a first pseudowire endpoint configured to receive the information flow,

a second pseudowire endpoint in communication with one of the core networks,

a switching module configured to interconnect the first pseudowire endpoint and the second pseudowire endpoint for transport of a portion of the information flow to the one core network, and

a framer coupled to the switching module and configured to convert another portion of the information flow into a traffic flow that is native to another one of the core networks.

15. A switch according to claim 14, wherein the switching module provides frame relay switching or Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) switching.

16. A switch according to claim 14, wherein the information flow originates from an aggregation point within a customer premise, and the aggregation point concentrates a plurality of flows from a corresponding plurality of customer networks.

17. A switch according to claim 14, wherein the framer outputs a Time Division Multiplexed (TDM) data stream to the other core network.

18. A switch according to claim 14, wherein the framer outputs an Ethernet-type data stream to the other core network.