System and method for DSL subscriber identification over ethernet network

• US 7,835,370 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sajassi, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryman; Daniel J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Thinh D
• Application Number:
  US11/117,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20060245439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,028 Days
• Field of Search: 370/349, 370/392, 370/389, 370/397, 370/399, 370/395.53, 370/395.42, 370/395.43, 370/395, 370/3, 370/409, 370/471
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2881 IP/Ethernet DSLAM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/465 wherein a single frame includes a plurality of VLAN tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00

Abstract

A DSLAM aggregation topology VLAN bundling mechanism includes an edge device port that receives a packet from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the packet including an inner Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag that identifies a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber. A processor of the edge device adds an outer VLAN tag to the packet, the outer VLAN tag identifying the DSLAM and a destination server coupled to an Ethernet access network. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A processor-implemented method of operation for a user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device of a Service Provider (SP) Ethernet access network that operates consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification, the method comprising:

receiving a packet from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the packet including a subscriber Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag that identifies a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber, the packet having a format consistent with an IEEE 802.1q specification; and

adding an outer VLAN tag to the packet, thereby creating a modified packet with the subscriber VLAN tag comprising an inner VLAN tag, the outer VLAN tag uniquely identifying a pair of devices consisting of the DSLAM and a destination server coupled to the SP Ethernet access network such that a separate broadcast domain is provided for the pair of devices across the SP Ethernet access network, the modified packet having a format consistent with the IEEE 802.1ad specification, wherein forwarding of data packets over the SP Ethernet access network is based solely on the outer VLAN tag.

2. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the format of the packet includes a customer MAC header, the subscriber VLAN tag, a Layer 2 protocol data unit (L2PDU) payload, and a service provider Frame Check Sum (FCS).

3. The processor-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the format of the modified packet includes a customer MAC header, the outer VLAN tag, the inner VLAN tag, a Layer 2 protocol data unit (L2PDU) payload, and a service provider Frame Check Sum (FCS).

4. A processor-implemented method of operation for a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device coupled to a Service Provider (SP) Ethernet access network that operates consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification, comprising:

receiving a customer frame from a customer edge (CE) device;

performing Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) bundling to create a modified frame consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification by adding inner and outer VLAN tags to the customer frame, the inner VLAN tag identifying a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber, and the outer VLAN tag specifying a connection between a pair of devices consisting of the DSLAM device and a feature server coupled to the SP Ethernet access network such that a separate broadcast domain is provided for the pair of devices across the SP Ethernet access network, wherein forwarding of data packets over the SP Ethernet access network is based solely on the outer VLAN tag consistent with the IEEE 802.1ad specification.

5. The processor-implemented method of claim 4 wherein after VLAN bundling the modified frame has a packet format that includes a customer MAC header, the outer VLAN tag, the inner VLAN tag, a Layer 2 protocol data unit (L2PDU) payload, and a service provider Frame Check Sum (FCS).

6. A processor-implemented method of operation for a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device coupled to a Service Provider (SP) Ethernet access network that operates consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification, comprising:

receiving an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) subscriber frame from a customer edge (CE) device;

performing Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) bundling to create a modified frame consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification by adding inner and outer VLAN tags to the ATM subscriber frame, the inner tag mapping an ATM Virtual Circuit (VC) and the outer VLAN tag identifying a pair consisting of the DSLAM device and a data service type such that a separate broadcast domain is provided for the pair across the SP Ethernet access network, wherein forwarding of data packets over the SP Ethernet access network is based solely on the outer VLAN tag consistent with the IEEE 802.1ad specification.

7. The processor-implemented method of claim 6 wherein after VLAN bundling the modified frame has a packet format that includes a customer MAC header, the outer VLAN tag, the inner VLAN tag, a Layer 2 protocol data unit (L2PDU) payload, and a service provider Frame Check Sum (FCS).

8. A user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device for association with a Service Provider (SP) Ethernet access network that operates consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification, the u-PE device comprising:

a port to receive a packet from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the packet including a subscriber Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag that identifies a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber, the packet having a format consistent with an IEEE 802.1g specification; and

a processor that adds an outer VLAN tag to the packet, thereby creating a modified packet with the subscriber VLAN tag comprising an inner VLAN tag, the outer VLAN tag identifying a pair of devices consisting of the DSLAM and a feature server coupled to the SP Ethernet access network such that a separate broadcast domain is provided for the pair of devices across the SP Ethernet access network, the modified packet having a format consistent with the IEEE 802.1ad specification, wherein forwarding of data packets over the SP Ethernet access network is based solely on the outer VLAN tag.

9. The u-PE device of claim 8 wherein the format of the packet includes a customer MAC header, the subscriber VLAN tag, a Layer 2protocol data unit (L2PDU) payload, and a service provider Frame Check Sum (FCS).

10. The u-PE device of claim 8 wherein the format of the modified packet includes a customer MAC header, the outer VLAN tag, the inner VLAN tag, a Layer 2 protocol data unit (L2PDU) payload, and a service provider Frame Check Sum (FCS).

11. A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device for connection to a Service Provider (SP) Ethernet access network that operates consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification, comprising:

a port to receive a customer frame from a customer edge (CE) device; and

a processor that performs Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) bundling to create a modified frame consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification by adding inner and outer VLAN tags to the customer frame, the inner VLAN tag identifying a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber, and the outer VLAN tag specifying a connection between a pair of devices consisting of the DSLAM device and a feature server coupled to the SP Ethernet access network such that a separate broadcast domain is provided for the pair of devices across the SP Ethernet access network, wherein forwarding of data packets over the SP Ethernet access network is based solely on the outer VLAN tag.

12. The DSLAM device of claim 11 wherein after VLAN bundling the modified frame has a packet format that includes a customer MAC header, the outer VLAN tag, the inner VLAN tag, a Layer 2 protocol data unit (L2PDU) payload, and a service provider Frame Check Sum (FCS).

13. A provider edge device for association with a Service Provider (SP) Ethernet access network that operates consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification, the provider edge device comprising:

a port to receive a packet from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the packet including a subscriber Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag that identifies a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber, the packet having a format consistent with an IEEE 802.1q specification; and

means for adding an outer VLAN tag to the packet, thereby creating a modified packet with the subscriber VLAN tag comprising an inner VLAN tag, the outer VLAN tag identifying a pair of devices consisting of the DSLAM and a feature server coupled to the SP Ethernet access network such that a separate broadcast domain is provided for the pair of devices across the SP Ethernet access network, wherein forwarding of data packets over the SP Ethernet access network is based solely on the outer VLAN tag.

14. A Service Provider (SP) Ethernet access network that operates consistent with an IEEE 802.1ad specification, comprising:

a user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device configured to receive a packet from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the packet including a subscriber Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag that identifies a Digital Subscriber Line (IDSL) subscriber, the packet having a format consistent with an IEEE 802.1q specification, the u-PE device including means for adding an outer VLAN tag to the packet, thereby creating a modified packet with the subscriber VLAN tag comprising an inner VLAN tag, the outer VLAN tag identifying a pair of devices consisting of the DSLAM and a destination server coupled to the SP Ethernet access network such that a separate broadcast domain is provided for the pair of devices across the SP Ethernet access network, the modified packet having a format compliant with an IEEE 802.1ad specification;

a plurality of intermediate nodes configured to forward the modified packet over the SP Ethernet access network based solely on the outer VLAN tag; and

a network-facing provider edge (n-PE) device configured to forward the modified packet with the outer VLAN tag to the destination server.