Using tunneling to enhance remote LAN connectivity
First Claim
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1. A method of packet-switched communications, the method comprising:
- interconnecting two physically separate Local Area Network (LAN) segments, a remote LAN segment and a fixed LAN segment, into one logical LAN segment; and
providing connectivity on a datalink-layer by encapsulating LAN frames or datagrams to create a tunnel from the remote LAN segment through a packet-switched mobile network and a packet-switched fixed network to the fixed LAN segment;
wherein said tunnel is connected to the remote LAN segment via a first bridge, and wherein said tunnel is connected to the fixed LAN segment via a second bridge, such that the tunnel extends from the remote LAN segment to the fixed LAN segment, thereby creating said one logical LAN segment;
wherein said first and second bridges each provide an interface between a physical layer-2 interface of the LAN segments and a logical layer-3 interface of the tunnel;
wherein the remote LAN segment is geographically separate from the fixed LAN segment; and
wherein a host on the fixed LAN segment can communicate bidirectionally with a host on the geographically separate remote LAN segment as though both hosts were connected on the same physical LAN segment.
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Abstract
The address translation capabilities of packet-switched mobile networks are exploited to achieve bidirectional LAN communications therethrough. A multi-dash user VPN can be provided by encapsulating a multi-user LAN communication protocol for traversal of a packet-switched network. By encapsulating a commonly available multi-user LAN communication protocol, for example ethernet, remote LAN connectivity can be extended without requiring any host reconfiguration.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of packet-switched communications, the method comprising:
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interconnecting two physically separate Local Area Network (LAN) segments, a remote LAN segment and a fixed LAN segment, into one logical LAN segment; and providing connectivity on a datalink-layer by encapsulating LAN frames or datagrams to create a tunnel from the remote LAN segment through a packet-switched mobile network and a packet-switched fixed network to the fixed LAN segment; wherein said tunnel is connected to the remote LAN segment via a first bridge, and wherein said tunnel is connected to the fixed LAN segment via a second bridge, such that the tunnel extends from the remote LAN segment to the fixed LAN segment, thereby creating said one logical LAN segment; wherein said first and second bridges each provide an interface between a physical layer-2 interface of the LAN segments and a logical layer-3 interface of the tunnel; wherein the remote LAN segment is geographically separate from the fixed LAN segment; and wherein a host on the fixed LAN segment can communicate bidirectionally with a host on the geographically separate remote LAN segment as though both hosts were connected on the same physical LAN segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for packet-switched communications, the apparatus comprising:
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processing circuitry configured to interconnect two physically separate Local Area Network (LAN) segments, a remote LAN segment and a fixed LAN segment, into one logical LAN segment; the processing circuitry further configured to provide connectivity on a datalink-layer by encapsulating LAN frames or datagrams to create a tunnel from the remote LAN segment through a packet-switched mobile network and a packet-switched fixed network to the fixed LAN segment; the processing circuitry further configured to provide connectivity on the datalink-layer by implementing a tunnel that extends from the remote LAN segment to the fixed LAN segment, thereby creating said logical LAN segment, so that a host on the fixed LAN segment can communicate bidirectionally with a host on the remote LAN segment, which is geographically separate, as though both hosts were connected on the same physical LAN segment; wherein said tunnel is connected to the remote LAN segment via a first bridge, and wherein said tunnel is connected to the fixed LAN segment via a second bridge, such that the tunnel extends from the remote LAN segment to the fixed LAN segment, thereby creating said one logical LAN segment; wherein said first and second bridges each provide an interface between a physical layer-2 interface of the LAN segments and a logical layer-3 interface of the tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A first bridge for operation with an associated Local Area Network (LAN) segment, the bridge comprising:
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an interface configured for receiving LAN frames or datagrams from the associated LAN segment; processing circuitry configured for encapsulating the LAN frames or datagrams to produce corresponding encapsulated LAN frames or datagrams; and a tunnel interface configured for outputting said encapsulated LAN frames or datagrams onto a tunnel to another physically separate LAN segment through a packet-switched mobile network and a packet-switched fixed network, wherein said tunnel is connected to the physically separate LAN segment via a second bridge; wherein said first and second bridges each provide an interface between a physical layer-2 interface of the LAN segments and a logical layer-3 interface of the tunnel; wherein the associated LAN segment is geographically separate from the physically separate LAN segment; and wherein a host on the associated LAN segment can communicate bidirectionally with a host on the physically separate remote LAN segment as though both hosts were connected on the same physical LAN segment. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A second bridge for operation with an associated Local Area Network (LAN) segment, the bridge comprising:
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a tunnel interface configured for receiving encapsulated LAN frames or datagrams from another physically separate LAN segment, via a tunnel through a packet-switched mobile network and a packet-switched fixed network, wherein said tunnel is connected to the physically separate LAN segment via a first bridge; processing circuitry configured for de-encapsulating the received encapsulated LAN frames to obtain corresponding LAN frames or datagrams; and an interface configured for outputting said LAN frames or datagrams to the associated LAN segment; wherein said first and second bridges each provide an interface between a physical layer-2 interface of the LAN segments and a logical layer-3 interface of the tunnel; wherein the associated LAN segment is geographically separate from the physically separate LAN segment; and wherein a host on the associated LAN segment can communicate bidirectionally with a host on the physically separate remote LAN segment as though both hosts were connected on the same physical LAN segment. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification