Internet protocol based network architecture for cable television network access with switched fallback
First Claim
1. A method for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint, the method comprising the steps of:
- specifying routing information for an endpoint using a device, wherein the routing information specifies a primary and alternative Internet Protocol (IP) address; and
communicating data to the endpoint using the specified primary IP address except during periods of service interruption in which the alternative IP address is used by,translating an identifier associated with the primary IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternate IP address andestablishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the identifier associated with the alternative IP address.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user accesses the Internet through a hybrid data communications system architecture in which upstream service is provided via the local loop of the public switched telephone network (PSTN) and downstream service is provided via a cable television (CATV) network. The Cable Modem Data Termination system (CMTS) includes a routing table. Upon detection of a CATV service interruption, the CMTS re-routes IP traffic destined for a destination IP address (IP1) associated with the user to a different IP address, or endpoint, as a function of the routing table. In this instance, the different IP address is associated with equipment that provides downstream IP service to the user via the local loop of the PSTN.
16 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint, the method comprising the steps of:
-
specifying routing information for an endpoint using a device, wherein the routing information specifies a primary and alternative Internet Protocol (IP) address; and communicating data to the endpoint using the specified primary IP address except during periods of service interruption in which the alternative IP address is used by, translating an identifier associated with the primary IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternate IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the identifier associated with the alternative IP address.
-
-
2. A method for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint via a primary communications channel, the method comprising the steps of:
-
storing a routing table comprising an first Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with routing data to an endpoint via the primary communications channel and a second IP address associated with routing data to the endpoint over a secondary communications channel; and routing data to the endpoint as a function of the routing table, such that during periods of service interruption on the primary communications channel data is routed to the endpoint via the secondary communications channel by translating an identifier associated with the first IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the second IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the second IP address, whereas data is routed to the endpoint via the primary communications channel otherwise.
-
-
3. A method of communicating over a cable television (CATV) access network having a cable modem termination system (CMTS) interface, the method comprising the steps of:
-
establishing a connection between the CMTS and a distant cable modem (CM) logically derived from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) subnetwork identifier of a Network Access Server (NAS) of the ISP; storing routing information associated with the connection, the routing information including at least a CM identifier, an identity of an RF link on the CATV access network over which the CMTS forwards data packets to the CM, and a tunnel interface identifier over which the CMTS forwards data packets to the CM over a different network; and communicating data packets to the CM by translating the CM identifier to either the identified RF link or the tunnel interface identifier, wherein the tunnel is invoked in the event of a CATV interface failure. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. Apparatus for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint, the apparatus comprising:
a device for (a) specifying routing information for an endpoint, wherein the routing information specifies a primary and alternative Internet Protocol (IP) address, and (b) communicating data to the endpoint using the specified primary IP address except during periods of service interruption in which the alternative IP address is used by (c) translating an identifier associated with the primary IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternate IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternative IP address.
-
8. Apparatus for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint, the apparatus comprising:
a device for routing data to the endpoint as a function of a routing table stored therein, such that during periods of service interruption on a primary communications channel associated with a primary IP address, data is routed to the endpoint via a secondary communications channel associated with a secondary IP address by translating an identifier associated with the primary IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the secondary IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the secondary IP address, whereas data is routed to the endpoint via the primary communications channel otherwise.
-
9. A system for use in providing Internet service, the system comprising:
-
a cable head-end router for providing Internet Protocol (IP) packets intended for subsequent conveyance over a primary channel; and a cable modem data termination system responsive to the provided IP packets for routing the IP packets to an endpoint as a function of a routing table stored therein such that during periods of service interruption on the primary communications channel the IP packets are routed to the endpoint via a secondary communications channel associated with a secondary IP address by translating an identifier associated with the primary communications channel to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the secondary IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the secondary IP address, whereas the IP packets are routed to the endpoint via the primary communications channel associated with a primary IP address otherwise.
-
-
10. A system for use in providing Internet service, the system comprising:
-
a cable head-end router for providing Internet Protocol (IP) packets that include a destination field having a value associated with a first IP address; and a cable modem data termination system responsive to the provided IP packets for communicating the IP packets to the endpoint using the first IP address except during periods of service interruption in which an alternative IP address is used by translating an identifier associated with the first IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternative IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the identifier associated with the alternative IP address.
-
-
11. A method for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint, the method comprising the steps of:
-
specifying routing information for an endpoint, wherein the routing information specifies a primary and alternative Internet Protocol (IP) address; and communicating data to the endpoint using the specified primary IP address over a first cable-based communications channel except during periods of service interruption in which the alternative IP address is used for communicating over a second non-cable-based communications channel by translating an identifier associated with the primary IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternative IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternative IP address over the non-cable channel.
-
-
12. A method for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint via a primary communications channel, the method comprising the steps of:
-
storing a routing table comprising an first-Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with routing data to an endpoint via the primary communications channel and a second IP address associated with routing data to the endpoint over a secondary communications channel; and routing data to the endpoint as a function of the routing table such that during periods of service interruption on the primary communications channel data is routed to the endpoint via the secondary communications channel by translating an identifier associated with the first IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the second IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the identifier associated with the second IP address, whereas data is routed to the endpoint via the primary communications channel otherwise and wherein the primary communications channel and the secondary communications channel are supported by physically different communications mediums.
-
-
13. A method of communicating over a cable television (CATV) access network having a cable modem termination system (CMTS) interface, the method comprising the steps of:
-
establishing a connection between the CMTS and a distant cable modem (CM) logically derived from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) subnetwork identifier of a Network Access Server (NAS) of the ISP; storing routing information associated with the connection, the routing information including at least a CM identifier, an identity of an RF link on the CATV access network over which the CMTS forwards data packets to the CM, and a tunnel interface identifier over which the CMTS forwards data packets to the CM over a switched telephone network; and communicating data packets to the CM by translating the CM identifier to either the identified RF link or the tunnel interface identifier, wherein the tunnel is invoked in the event of a CATV interface failure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. Apparatus for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint, the apparatus comprising:
a device for (a) specifying routing information for an endpoint, wherein the routing information specifies a primary and alternative Internet Protocol (IP) address, and (b) communicating data to the endpoint using the specified primary IP address over a first cable-based channel except during periods of service interruption in which the alternative IP address is used for communicating data over a second non-cable-based communications channel by (c) translating an identifier associated with the primary IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternative IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternative IP address over the non-cable channel.
-
18. Apparatus for use in providing Internet service to an endpoint, the apparatus comprising:
a device for routing data to the endpoint as a function of a routing table stored therein, such that during periods of service interruption on a primary communications channel associated with a primary IP address, data is routed to the endpoint via a secondary communications channel associated with a secondary IP address by translating an identifier associated with the primary IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the secondary IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the secondary IP address, whereas data is routed to the endpoint via the primary communications channel otherwise and wherein the primary communications channel is physically different from the secondary communications channel.
-
19. A system for use in providing Internet service, the system comprising:
-
a cable head-end router for providing Internet Protocol (IP) packets intended for subsequent conveyance over a primary cable channel; and a cable modem data termination system responsive to the provided IP packets for routing the IP packets to an endpoint as a function of a routing table stored therein such that during periods of service interruption on the primary cable channel the IP packets are routed to the endpoint via a secondary non-cable communications channel associated with a secondary IP address by translating an identifier associated with the primary cable channel to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the secondary IP address and secondary non-cable communications channel and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the secondary IP address, whereas the IP packets are routed to the endpoint via the primary cable channel associated with a primary IP address otherwise.
-
-
20. A system for use in providing Internet service, the system comprising:
-
a cable head-end router for providing Internet Protocol (IP) packets that include a destination field having a value associated with a first IP address; and a cable modem data termination system responsive to the provided IP packets for communicating the IP packets to the endpoint over a cable-based communications channel using the first IP address except during periods of service interruption in which an alternative IP address is used for communicating the IP packets to the endpoint over a non-cable-based communications channel by translating an identifier associated with the first IP address to a tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternative IP address and establishing an IP tunnel to the endpoint using the tunnel interface identifier associated with the alternative IP address over the non-cable channel.
-
Specification