Method and apparatus for associating PVC identifiers with domain names of home gateways

• US 7,366,189 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2004
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Davison, Michael, Langley, David, Tio, Rene
• Primary Examiner(s): ABELSON, RONALD B
• Application Number:
  US10/970,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2898 Subscriber equipments DSL modems H04M11/062; cable modems H04L12/2801
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0272 Virtual private networks

Abstract

A method and apparatus associates a domain name of a home gateway with one or more PVCs. After the PVC is established, a tunneling protocol is used to request the domain name of the home gateway, and the domain name is associated with the PVC. When a user logs on via an access communication device, the user will provide a domain name of a home gateway with which the user desires to communicate. A PVC associated with the home gateway is then used to allow the user to communicate with the home gateway. The domain name of the home gateway may be periodically verified to detect any changes.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating with a home gateway, comprising:

a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receiving an identifier of a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) capable of use for communication with the home gateway;

providing for receipt by the home gateway a message intended to cause the home gateway to provide a domain name of the home gateway;

receiving the domain name of the home gateway requested; and

associating the domain name of the home gateway received with the identifier of the PVC received.

2. An apparatus for communicating with a home gateway, comprising:

a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receiving an identifier of a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) capable of use for communication with the home gateway;

providing for receipt by the home gateway a message intended to cause the home gateway to provide an identifier of the home gateway;

receiving the identifier of the home gateway requested; and

associating the identifier of the home gateway received with the identifier of the PVC received;

wherein the providing step comprises sending at least one message using a tunneling protocol.

3. An apparatus for communicating with a home gateway, comprising:

a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receiving an identifier of a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) capable of use for communication with the home gateway;

providing for receipt by the home gateway a message intended to cause the home gateway to provide an identifier of the home gateway;

receiving the identifier of the home gateway requested;

associating the identifier of the home gateway received with the identifier of the PVC received;

receiving a first password for the home gateway;

providing a message intended for the home gateway that will cause the home gateway to provide a second password;

receiving the second password; and

comparing the first password received with the second password received;

wherein the associating step is responsive to the comparing step.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the messages each comprise a tunneling protocol message.

5. An apparatus for communicating with a home gateway, comprising:

a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receiving an identifier of a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) capable of use for communication with the home gateway;

providing for receipt by the home gateway a message intended to cause the home gateway to provide an identifier of the home gateway;

receiving the identifier of the home gateway requested;

associating the identifier of the home gateway received with the identifier of the PVC received;

receiving at least one communication comprising the identifier of the home gateway and at least one piece of information different from the identifier of the home gateway;

retrieving at least one identifier of at least one PVC associated with the identifier of the home gateway; and

providing to the home gateway the at least one piece of information via at least one PVC, at least one of said at least one PVC corresponding to the at least one identifier of the at least one PVC retrieved.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the steps further comprise the additional step of selecting at least one of the identifiers of at least one PVC retrieved, and

wherein the providing step is responsive to the selecting step.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the selecting step comprises:

identifying a utilization of at least two PVCs corresponding to the at least one identifier retrieved; and

selecting the identifier of one of the at least two PVCs having the lower utilization identified.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one piece of information comprises a user identifier.

9. An apparatus for communicating with a home gateway, comprising:

a network interface that is coupled to a data network for receiving one or more packet flows therefrom;

a processor; and

one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to carry out the steps of;

receiving an identifier of a permanent virtual circuit (PVC) capable of use for communication with the home gateway; and

in response to receiving the identifier, sending a message to the home gateway, wherein the message requests the home gateway to provide an identifier of the home gateway.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein sending the message comprises sending the message through the PVC identified.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving, in response to the message, an identifier of the home gateway.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise:

in response to the message, receiving, through the PVC identified, an identifier of the home gateway.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the steps further comprise:

receiving, in response to the message, an identifier of the home gateway; and

in response to receiving the identifier of the home gateway, storing an association between the identifier of the home gateway and the identifier of the PVC.