Method for the recognition and operation of virtual private networks (VPNs) over a wireless point to multi-point (PtMP) transmission system

• US 6,680,922 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1999
• Issued: 01/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Malibu Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Jorgensen, Jacob W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/349,975
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 370/230, 370/231, 370/235, 370/352, 370/353, 370/355, 370/356, 370/328, 370/338, 709/230, 709/223, 709/226
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/20 using signal quality detector
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1836 with heterogeneous network architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/189 in combination with wireless systems selective distribution or broadcast in wireless communication networks H04W4/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/193 at the transport layer, e.g. TCP related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/27 Evaluation or update of window size, e.g. using information derived from acknowledged [ACK] packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/161 Implementation details of TCP/IP or UDP/IP stack architecture; Specification of modified or new header fields
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/163 In-band adaptation of TCP data exchange; In-band control procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/165 Combined use of TCP and UDP protocols; selection criteria therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/169 Special adaptations of TCP, UDP or IP for interworking of IP based networks with other networks protocols for interworking, protocol conversion H04L69/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0414 Details
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13096 Digital apparatus individually associated with a subscriber line, digital line circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13097 : Numbering, addressing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 : Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 : Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 : Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13196 : Connection circuit/link/trunk/junction, bridge, router, gateway
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13216 : Code signals, frame structure
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13292 : Time division multiplexing, TDM
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13296 : Packet switching, X.25, frame relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 : Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/0273 : adapting protocols for flow control or congestion control to wireless environment, e.g. adapting transmission control protocol [TCP] wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation, e.g. wireless application protocol H04W80/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/20 : Negotiating bandwidth
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/24 : Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/26 : Resource reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/566 : of the information or information source or recipient
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 : Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system includes a wireless base station coupled to a first data network; one or more host workstations coupled to the first data network; one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations in wireless communication with the wireless base station over a shared wireless bandwidth using a packet-centric protocol; and one or more subscriber workstations coupled to each of the subscriber CPE stations over a second network; resource allocator optimizing end-user quality of service (QoS) and allocating shared bandwidth among the subscriber CPE stations; a scheduler to schedule an internet protocol (IP) flow over the shared wireless bandwidth. The scheduler includes a prioritizer for prioritizing the IP flow based on priorities of a virtual private network (VPN). The system can include an analyzer for analyzing the virtual private network (VPN) priorities for the IP flow, or for prioritizing all VPN IP flows. The system can include a prioritizer to prioritize the IP flow based on one or more subscriber-defined parameters. In the system, the VPN can include a directory enabled networking (DEN) table management scheme. The VPN can be implemented using a point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP). Also included is a method for accomplishing the above.

Claims

1. A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system comprising:

a wireless base station coupled to a first data network;

one or more host workstations coupled to said first data network;

one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations in wireless communication with said wireless base station over a shared wireless bandwidth using a packet-centric protocol; and

one or more subscriber workstations coupled to each of said subscriber CPE stations over a second network;

resource allocation means for optimizing end-user quality of service (QoS) and allocating said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations, wherein said resource allocation means is application aware, and wherein said application awareness comprises awareness of at least one layer above layer 4 of Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model; and

means for analyzing and scheduling an internet protocol (IP) flow over said shared wireless bandwidth, wherein said scheduling means comprises;

prioritization means for prioritizing said IP flow in comparison to other IP flows based on priorities of a virtual private network (VPN) associated with said IP flow.

2. The system of claim 1, comprising:

means for analyzing said virtual private network (VPN) priorities for said IP flow.

3. The system of claim 2, comprising:

means for prioritizing all VPN IP flows.

4. The system of claim 2, comprising:

means for prioritizing said IP flow based on one or more subscriber-defined parameters.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said VPN comprises a directory enabled networking (DEN) table management scheme.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said VPN is implemented using a point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP).

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said wireless base station comprises a wireless access point (AP).

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of said subscriber CPE stations is a wireless local area network (LAN) station (STA).

9. A scheduling method for use in a packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system, said telecommunications system comprising:

a wireless base station coupled to a first data network;

one or more host workstations coupled to said first data network;

one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations in wireless communication with said wireless base station over a shared wireless bandwidth using a packet-centric protocol; and

one or more subscriber workstations coupled to each of said subscriber CPE stations over a second network;

resource allocation means for optimizing end-user quality of service (QoS) and allocating said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations, wherein said resource allocation means is application aware, and wherein said application awareness comprises awareness of at least one layer above layer 4 of Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model;

means for analyzing and scheduling an internet protocol (IP) flow over said shared wireless bandwidth, wherein said scheduling method comprises the steps of;

prioritizing said IP flow in comparison to other IP flows based on priorities of a virtual private network (VPN) associated with said IP flow.

10. The method of claim 9, comprising the step of:

analyzing said virtual private network (VPN) priorities for said IP flow.

11. The method of claim 10, comprising the step of:

prioritizing all VPN IP flows.

12. The method of claim 10, comprising the step of:

prioritizing said IP flow based on one or more subscriber-defined parameters.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said VPN comprises a directory enabled networking (DEN) table management scheme.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said VPN DEN is common information model (CIM) 3.0 compatible.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said VPN is implemented using a point-to-point tunneling protocol (PPTP).

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said VPN is implemented using internet protocol security (IPSec) protocol.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein said wireless base station comprises a wireless access point (AP).

18. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of said subscriber CPE stations is a wireless local area network (LAN) station (STA).

19. A packet-centric wireless point to multi-point telecommunications system comprising:

a wireless base station coupled to a first data network;

one or more host workstations coupled to said first data network;

one or more subscriber customer premise equipment (CPE) stations in wireless communication with said wireless base station over a shared wireless bandwidth using a packet-centric protocol; and

one or more subscriber workstations coupled to each of said subscriber CPE stations over a second network;

a resource allocator to optimize end-user quality of service (QoS) and allocate said shared wireless bandwidth among said subscriber CPE stations, wherein said resource allocator is application aware, and wherein said application awareness comprises awareness of at least one layer above layer 4 of Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model; and

a scheduler to schedule an internet protocol (IP) flow over said shared wireless bandwidth, wherein said scheduler comprises;

a prioritizer to prioritize said IP flow in comparison to other IP flows based on priorities of a virtual private network (VPN) associated with said IP flow.

20. The system of claim 19, comprising:

an analyzer to analyze said virtual private network (VPN) priorities for said IP flow.

21. The system of claim 20, comprising:

a prioritizer to prioritize said IP flow based on one or more subscriber-defined parameters.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein said wireless base station comprises a wireless access point (AP).

23. The system of claim 19, wherein at least one of said subscriber CPE stations is a wireless local area network (LAN) station (STA).