Scalable system and method for DSL subscriber traffic over an Ethernet network
First Claim
1. A processor-implemented method of operation for a user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device of an Ethernet access network, the method comprising:
- receiving a customer frame from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the customer frame being of a first format that includes a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag, the first VLAN tag including a VLAN identifier portion having a first predetermined bit length identifying a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber; and
re-formatting the customer frame into a second format, wherein the first VLAN identifier portion is mapped to a second VLAN identifier portion of a second VLAN tag, the second VLAN identifier portion having a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length, the second VLAN tag identifying a service instance of the Ethernet access network, in the second format the customer frame being encapsulated inside a provider frame, wherein a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with the DSLAM, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a destination device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for identifying and forwarding traffic to/from Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) devices and feature servers without ambiguity includes a user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device that receives a customer frame from a DSLAM device, the customer frame being of a first format that includes a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first bit length. The first VLAN tag identifies a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber. The customer frame is re-formatted by the u-PE device such that the first VLAN tag is mapped to a second VLAN tag of a second bit length greater than the first bit length, the second VLAN tag identifying a service instance of the Ethernet access network. The u-PE device encapsulating the customer frame inside a provider frame, with a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with the DSLAM, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a destination device.
143 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A processor-implemented method of operation for a user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device of an Ethernet access network, the method comprising:
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receiving a customer frame from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the customer frame being of a first format that includes a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag, the first VLAN tag including a VLAN identifier portion having a first predetermined bit length identifying a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber; and re-formatting the customer frame into a second format, wherein the first VLAN identifier portion is mapped to a second VLAN identifier portion of a second VLAN tag, the second VLAN identifier portion having a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length, the second VLAN tag identifying a service instance of the Ethernet access network, in the second format the customer frame being encapsulated inside a provider frame, wherein a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with the DSLAM, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a destination device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A processor-implemented method of operation for a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device coupled to an Ethernet access network, comprising:
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encapsulating a customer frame inside a provider frame, wherein a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with the DSLAM device, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a service node; and adding a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag having a VLAN identifier bit field that identifies a service instance of the Ethernet access network and other bit fields not identifying the service instance of the Ethernet access network, the VLAN identifier bit field being 20 bits long. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device for association with an Ethernet access network, the u-PE device comprising:
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a port to receive a customer frame from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the customer frame being of a first format that includes a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag including a first VLAN identifying portion of a first predetermined bit length identifying a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber; and a processor operable to re-format the customer frame into a second format, wherein the VLAN identifying portion of the first VLAN tag is mapped to a VLAN identifying portion of a second VLAN tag, the second VLAN identifying portion having a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length and identifying a service instance of the Ethernet access network, in the second format the customer frame being encapsulated inside a provider frame, wherein a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with the DSLAM, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a destination device. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device for connection to an Ethernet access network, comprising:
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a port to receive a, customer frame; and a processor operable to encapsulate the customer frame inside a provider frame, wherein a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with the DSLAM device, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a service node, the processor being further operable to add a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag having a first VLAN identifier portion that identifies a service instance of the Ethernet access network, the processor being further operable to add a second VLAN tag having a second VLAN identifier portion that specifies a broadcast domain of the Ethernet access network. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A device for connection to an Ethernet access network, comprising:
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a port to receive a customer frame; and a processor operable to encapsulate the customer frame inside a provider frame, wherein a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a service node, the processor being further operable to add a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag having a VLAN identifier portion that identifies a service instance of the Ethernet access network and also having other portions that do not identify a service instance of the Ethernet access network, the VLAN identifier portion being greater than 12 bits long.
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15. An Ethernet access network, comprising:
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a user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device configured to receive a customer frame from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the customer frame including a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag that includes a first VLAN identifier portion that identifies a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber and that also includes other portions that do not identify the DSL subscriber, the u-PE device including means for encapsulating the customer frame inside a provider frame, wherein a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a service node, the means also for adding a second VLAN tag having a second VLAN identifier portion that identifies a service instance of the Ethernet access network, the second VLAN tag also including other portions that do not identify a service instance of the Ethernet access network, the second VLAN identifier portion being 20 bits long; and a network-facing provider edge (u-PE) device configured to forward the packet to the service node.
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Specification