Access node/gateway to access node/gateway layer-2 connectivity (end-to-end)

• US 8,948,149 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2012
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Foxworthy, Michael, Chandran, Girish, Lau, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutkowski, Jeffrey M
• Application Number:
  US13/689,369
• Publication Number:
  US 20130089024A1
• Time in Patent Office: 796 Days
• Field of Search: 370/338, 370/349, 370/392, 370/409, 370/474, 370/475, 709/243, 455/12.1
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4645 Details on frame tagging routing of packets H04L45/00; support for virtual LAN H04L49/354

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing end-to-end L2 connectivity, are described. The system includes satellites configured to transmit data packets. The system further includes a first non-autonomous gateway in communication with the satellites. The first non-autonomous gateway is configured to receive the data packets from the satellites at L1, generate virtual tagging tuples within L2 packet headers of the data packets, and transmit the data packets each including a virtual tagging tuple. The system further includes a L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway. The L2 switch is configured to receive the virtually tagged data packets and transmit the virtually tagged data packets. Further, the system includes a second non-autonomous gateway in communication with the L2 switch. The second non-autonomous gateway configured to receive the virtually tagged data packets and transmit the virtually tagged data packets to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuple associated with each of the virtually tagged packets.

Claims

1. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites, the system comprising:

a first non-autonomous gateway configured for processing primarily below layer-3 of the OSI-model (L3), the first non-autonomous gateway in communication with a bent pipe satellite that receives signals from one or more user terminals and relays the signals to the first non-autonomous gateway at layer-1 of the OSI-model (L1), the first non -autonomous gateway comprising;

a satellite modem termination system (SMTS) that demodulates the signals relayed from the bent pipe satellite and generates from the demodulated signals, a plurality of data packets having packet headers for layer-2 of the OSI-model (L2); and

a switch coupled with the SMTS that receives the plurality of data packets from the SMTS and adds virtual tagging tuples to the packet headers for each data packet of a subset of the plurality of data packets;

wherein the switch of the first non-autonomous gateway sends, via a ground-based L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway, the subset of the plurality of data packets to a second non-autonomous gateway for transmission to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuples associated with each of the subset of the plurality of data packets.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a core node comprising the ground-based L2 switch.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the non-routed ground segment network comprises the first non-autonomous gateway, the core node, and the second non-autonomous gateway.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the core node further comprises a gateway module in communication with the ground-based L2 switch and a routed ground segment network, the gateway module configured to generate routing data for communicating data packets through the routed ground segment network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the SMTS comprises one or more base stations.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual tagging tuples are configured to designate a location of the entity.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the location of the entity comprises one of a plurality of locations associated with the entity.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the virtual tagging tuples are associated with a reserved portion of a link capacity of the non-routed ground segment network between the first non-autonomous gateway and the second non-autonomous gateway.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of clients in communication with the one or more user terminals.

10. A method for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites, the method comprising:

receiving, by a first non-autonomous gateway configured for processing primarily below layer-3 of the OSI model (L3), signals from one or more user terminals, the signals relayed by a bent pipe satellite at layer-1 of the OSI model (L1);

demodulating the signals relayed from the bent pipe satellite;

generating a plurality of data packets from the demodulated signals, the plurality of data packets having packet headers for layer-2 of the OSI-model (L2);

adding virtual tagging tuples to the packet headers for each data packet of a subset of the plurality of data packets; and

sending, via a ground-based L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway, the subset of the data packets to a second non-autonomous gateway for transmission to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuples associated with each of the subset of the plurality of data packets.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

designating, using the virtual tagging tuples, the entity and a location for the entity.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the location of the entity comprises one of a plurality of locations associated with the entity.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

adding second virtual tagging tuples to the packet headers for each data packet of a second subset of the plurality of data packets;

designating, using the second virtual tagging tuples, a second entity and a location for the second entity; and

sending, via the ground-based L2 switch, the second subset of the plurality of data packets to the second entity based on the second virtual tagging tuples associated with each of the second subset of the plurality of data packets.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second locations comprise a same location.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second entities comprise a same entity.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the virtual tagging tuples are associated with a reserved portion of a link capacity of the non-routed ground segment network between the first non-autonomous gateway and the second non-autonomous gateway.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites, the computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive, by a first non-autonomous gateway configured for processing primarily below layer-3 of the OSI model (L3), signals from one or more user terminals, the signals relayed by a bent pipe satellite at layer-1 of the OSI model (L1);

demodulate the signals relayed from the bent pipe satellite;

generate a plurality of data packets from the demodulated signals, the plurality of data packets having packet headers for layer-2 of the OSI-model (L2);

add virtual tagging tuples to the packet headers for each data packet of a subset of the plurality of data packets; and

send, via a ground-based L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway, the subset of the data packets to a second non-autonomous gateway for transmission to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuples associated with each of the subset of the plurality of data packets.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising instructions stored thereon which, when executed by the computer, causes the computer to:

designate, using the virtual tagging tuples, the entity and a location for the entity.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the location of the entity comprises one of a plurality of locations associated with the entity.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the virtual tagging tuples are associated with a reserved portion of a link capacity of the non-routed ground segment network between the first non-autonomous gateway and the second non-autonomous gateway.