Methods, systems, and/or devices for providing network access

• US 20080317039A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheikhali, Jamil, Shackleton, Neal, Satterlee, Michael, Gibbons, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,852,789 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/395.5
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1886 with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method that can comprise, via an Ethernet Channel Service Unit (ECSU), providing a packet conversion between a Serial Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol and an Ethernet network protocol. The ECSU can be adapted to provide access to a network service between a first device adapted to communicate using an Ethernet protocol via the Ethernet network and a second device adapted to communicate using a serial protocol via the Serial WAN.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

via an Ethernet Channel Service Unit (ECSU), without examining data payloads or layer three packet headers of packets, providing a layer two packet conversion between a Serial Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol and an Ethernet network protocol, said ECSU adapted to provide point-to-point access to a layer three network service between a first device adapted to communicate using said Ethernet network protocol via an Ethernet network and a second device adapted to communicate using said Serial Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol via a Serial WAN, said point-to-point access provided without examination of said data payloads or said layer three packet headers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein via said point-to-point access is via single communications link.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein via said point-to-point access is via at least one multiple bonded communications link.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing packet encapsulation for each of said packets without examining packet data payload or layer three packet headers and thereby provide a transparent protocol conversion between said Ethernet network and said Serial WAN.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing packet encapsulation for each of said packets without examining packet data payload or layer three packet headers and thereby provide a transparent address map between said Ethernet network and said serial WAN.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

mapping virtual local area networks (VLANs) to logical sub-interfaces on WAN access circuits of said Serial WAN, said ECSU thereby adapted to support multiple VLANs between devices on said Ethernet network and devices on said Serial WAN.

7. The'"'"'method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a switching-based function at said ECSU adapted to switch packets between an Ethernet VLAN and a WAN bundle.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a policy-based function at said ECSU adapted to switch packets between an Ethernet VLAN and a WAN bundle.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said ECSU is adapted to support transmission rates on said Ethernet network of between one megabits per second and ten gigabits per second.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via said ECSU, not decrementing an Internet Protocol (IP) time to live (TTL) field of packets as said packets pass through said ECSU.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via said ECSU, converting a serial address to an Ethernet Media Access Control (MAC) address for said first device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via said ECSU, converting a serial address to an Ethernet Media Access Control (MAC) address for said second device.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

via said ECSU and via a proxy address resolution request, converting an Internet Protocol (IP) address to a Media Access Control (MAC) address for said first device.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically detecting a WAN Internet Protocol (IP) address of a provider edge device of said Serial WAN; and

based upon said WAN IP address,, dynamically assigning an address to an Ethernet interface of said ECSU and said first device.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

supporting a promiscuous mode wherein said ECSU processes all received packets on an Ethernet interface rather than just packets addressed to said ECSU.

16. A machine-readable medium comprising machine instructions for activities comprising:

via an Ethernet Channel Service Unit (ECSU), without examining data payloads or layer three packet headers of packets, providing a layer two packet conversion between a Serial Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol and an Ethernet network protocol, said ECSU adapted to change packet encapsulation for each of said packets without examining Internet Protocol layer three packet data content and thereby provide transparent Ethernet to Serial protocol conversion.

17. A system comprising:

via an Ethernet Channel Service Unit (ECSU), without examining data payloads or layer three packet headers of packets, providing a layer two packet conversion between a Serial Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol and an Ethernet network protocol, said ECSU adapted to map virtual local area networks (VLANs) to logical sub-interfaces on WAN access circuits of a Serial WAN, thereby said ECSU adapted to support multiple VLANs on said Ethernet network.

18. A method comprising:

via an Ethernet Channel Service Unit (ECSU), without examining data payloads or layer three packet headers of packets, providing a layer two packet conversion between a Serial Wide Area Network (WAN) protocol and an Ethernet network protocol, said ECSU adapted to switch packets between an Ethernet VLAN and a WAN bundle.