Multi-tenant unit
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for communicating information packets between each of a plurality of user ports and a network port, the apparatus comprising:
- a switch for establishing communication paths between each of the user ports and the network port;
storage for configuration information regarding the user ports including, a bandwidth allocated to each user port and including security features for each user port;
a controller, responsive to the configuration information for a given user port, for limiting the flow of information packets in a given time interval between the given user port and the network port corresponding to the bandwidth allocated to each user port; and
a firewall, responsive to the configuration information for the given user port, for filtering network traffic to the given user port corresponding to the security features for that user port.
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Abstract
Systems and methods for providing multiple users with access to a public network like the Internet are provided. A single high bandwidth connection (e.g., fast Ethernet) allows the users to communicate with the public network. Each user is allocated a specific bandwidth and can freely communicate with the public network up to the allocated bandwidth. Additionally, the invention may be remotely configured to change bandwidth allocations.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for communicating information packets between each of a plurality of user ports and a network port, the apparatus comprising:
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a switch for establishing communication paths between each of the user ports and the network port; storage for configuration information regarding the user ports including, a bandwidth allocated to each user port and including security features for each user port; a controller, responsive to the configuration information for a given user port, for limiting the flow of information packets in a given time interval between the given user port and the network port corresponding to the bandwidth allocated to each user port; and a firewall, responsive to the configuration information for the given user port, for filtering network traffic to the given user port corresponding to the security features for that user port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for distributing data between a network port and a plurality of user ports, the method comprising the steps of:
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storing configuration information, indicating data bandwidth allocated to each of the user ports and indicating security features of each of the user ports; receiving a request to send data between the network port and the selected user port if the current data bandwidth is less than the allocated data bandwidth; filtering data sent between the network port and the selected user port based on the security features of the selected user port; determining if the current data bandwidth of the selected port exceeds the allocated data bandwidth according to a counter measuring the number of bytes of data in a given time interval; and sending the filtered data between the network port and the selected user port if the counter indicates that the current data bandwidth is less than the allocated data bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of establishing respective network connections between a wide area network (WAN) and each of a plurality of tenant sites at a single location to allow information packets to be communicated between each tenant site and the WAN, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing a central switching apparatus at the location, the apparatus including a plurality of tenant ports, and a network port; storing configuration information including security information for each tenant at the central switching apparatus; coupling the WAN to the network port; coupling at least one computer or a local area network (LAN) at each tenant site to a respective tenant port; establishing, with the central switching apparatus, communication paths between each tenant port and the network port to provide each tenant with access to the WAN, and filtering, with the central switching apparatus, data sent between the network port and each tenant port based on the security information for each tenant port. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification