Point-to-point protocol with a signaling channel
First Claim
1. In a system including a network having one or more intermediate devices coupled to end stations by respective links, and through which a point-to-point data channel is established from a first end station through a first intermediate device through the network to a second end station, the point-to-point data channel operating according to a communication protocol between the first and second end stations, the first intermediate device including resources for managing use of bandwidth in the network, a method for improving network performance, comprising:
- detecting in the first intermediate device data frames in the point-to-point data channel the data frames being formatted according to the first communication protocol;
processing said data frames in the intermediate device for transmission through the network using the resources for managing use of network bandwidth; and
transmitting from the first intermediate device to the first end station information related to the management of network bandwidth in a data frame formatted according to the first communication protocol.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication protocol designed for managing the communication between peers, such as the point-to-point protocol, includes a signaling channel in frames formatted according to the communication protocol. The signaling channel is utilized by intermediate devices in the access provider network, such as central office switches or other concentration points in the network to facilitate the management of the flow of data traffic in the access providers network. The signaling channel is identified in the intermediate devices and in the end stations, such as customer premises equipment or remote access servers, by a particular value in the Protocol field of the PPP encapsulation format for example. The intermediate device is configured to monitor the protocol field, and when the particular value is recognized, to process the frame at the intermediate device. Likewise, the end station is configured to recognize the particular value in the protocol field, and to process the packet received according to the signaling channel function specified by that particular value.
158 Citations
20 Claims
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1. In a system including a network having one or more intermediate devices coupled to end stations by respective links, and through which a point-to-point data channel is established from a first end station through a first intermediate device through the network to a second end station, the point-to-point data channel operating according to a communication protocol between the first and second end stations, the first intermediate device including resources for managing use of bandwidth in the network, a method for improving network performance, comprising:
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detecting in the first intermediate device data frames in the point-to-point data channel the data frames being formatted according to the first communication protocol; processing said data frames in the intermediate device for transmission through the network using the resources for managing use of network bandwidth; and transmitting from the first intermediate device to the first end station information related to the management of network bandwidth in a data frame formatted according to the first communication protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a system including a network having one or more intermediate devices coupled to end stations by respective links, and through which a point-to-point data channel is established from a first end station through a first intermediate device through the network to a second end station, the point to point data channel operating according to a first communication protocol between the first and second end stations, the first intermediate device including resources for managing use of network resources, a method for improving network performance, comprising:
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establishing the point-to-point data channel for carrying data frames formatted according to the first communication protocol; and transmitting a data frame in the point-to-point data channel formatted according to the first communication protocol including information directed to the first intermediate device related to managing use of network resources. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification