Access line bonding and splitting methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. In a communication network, a method of aggregating a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising:
- classifying a plurality of packets that arrive on a first communication interface as belonging to a single communication session;
selecting one of a plurality of network interfaces that will be associated with said single communication session;
forwarding a first packet received on said first communication interface to said selected network interface associated with the single communication session that said first packet belongs to;
updating a source network address of said first packet with the network address associated with said selected network interface; and
forwarding a second packet received on said selected network interface for transmission onto said first communication interface, wherein the destination network address of said second packet is replaced by the source network address associated with the single communication session that said second packet belongs to.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for aggregating communication channels. In one exemplary embodiment an aggregation device is required only on one side of the set of communication channels being aggregated. Advantageously, no modifications to the source and/or destination of data transfers are required for operation of the invention. In one embodiment utilized for data transfers in the downstream direction, object download requests can be fulfilled by sending a sequence of partial download requests through the set of communication channels being aggregated, and forwarding the resulting partial data objects received to the original requester in the proper order. In another embodiment utilized for upstream data transfers, traffic is bifurcated to travel along a set of communication channels, and the bifurcated traffic is reassembled either at the network layer or the transport layer.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a communication network, a method of aggregating a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising:
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classifying a plurality of packets that arrive on a first communication interface as belonging to a single communication session; selecting one of a plurality of network interfaces that will be associated with said single communication session; forwarding a first packet received on said first communication interface to said selected network interface associated with the single communication session that said first packet belongs to; updating a source network address of said first packet with the network address associated with said selected network interface; and forwarding a second packet received on said selected network interface for transmission onto said first communication interface, wherein the destination network address of said second packet is replaced by the source network address associated with the single communication session that said second packet belongs to. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In a communication network, a method of aggregating a plurality of communication channels, the method comprising:
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requesting a plurality of data via a first communication interface, said first communication interface in communication with a first and a second network interface; wherein said plurality of data comprises a first data object and a second data object; receiving said first data object at said first network interface; receiving said second data object at said second network interface; and forwarding said first and second data objects to said first communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a packet based communication network, a method of aggregating communication channels, the method comprising:
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classifying a first plurality of packets that arrive on a first communication interface as belonging to a single communication session, said single communication session representing a data transfer in the upstream direction; dividing a first packet received on said first communication interface belonging to said single communication session into a plurality of fragments; and forwarding a first fragment of said plurality of fragments over a first network interface and forwarding a second fragment of said plurality of fragments over a second network interface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. In a packet based communication network, a method of avoiding the enactment of a false congestion avoidance mode of a transmitting source device, the method comprising:
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forwarding a plurality of data packets from a local port over a plurality of network interface ports; receiving an acknowledgment message comprising a sequence number at one of said plurality of network interface ports; determining whether said sequence number is identical to a previously received acknowledgment message; and selectively discarding said acknowledgement message so as to avoid said transmitting source device from unnecessarily entering a congestion avoidance mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for increasing the speed of network communications, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor; a storage device in communication with said processor; and at least one computer program stored on said storage device that when executed; receives a request for a plurality of data via a first communication interface from a computing device, said plurality of data comprising a first data object and a second data object and belonging to a single communication session; forwards said first data object request to a first network interface; forwards said second data object request to a second network interface; receives said first data object at said first network interface; receives said second data object at said second network interface; and forwards said first and second data objects to said first communication interface. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. For use in a packetized data network, network apparatus adapted to selectively utilize two or more available and substantially heterogeneous communication channels for communicating data associated with a single communications session so as to enhance the cost efficiency of said session.
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32. A portable aggregation device comprising a plurality of communication interfaces adapted to interface with respective ones of communication channels, said channels being provided by different mobile wireless broadband data services.
Specification