Layer-2 extension services

• US 9,419,702 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Foxworthy, Michael, Chandran, Girish, Lau, Jason, Colaluca, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): WILSON, ROBERT W
• Application Number:
  US14/325,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20150103736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18584 Arrangements for data networking, i.e. for data packet routing, for congestion control data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18591 Arrangements for interconnecting multiple systems data switching networks H04L12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18595 Arrangements for adapting broadband applications to satellite systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4645 Details on frame tagging routing of packets H04L45/00; support for virtual LAN H04L49/354

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, and systems for providing layer-2 extension services through a non-routed ground segment network, are described. The method includes providing a Layer-2 (L2) interface between a node of the non-routed ground segment network and a service provider, assigning a virtual tagging tuple to the service provider and receiving service provider traffic at a node of the non-routed ground segment network. The method further includes tagging the service provider traffic with the virtual tagging tuple, and switching the tagged service provider traffic through the non-routed ground segment network according to the virtual tagging tuple.

Claims

1. A method for providing extension services via a satellite networking system, the method comprising:

receiving traffic from a subscriber terminal at a first satellite gateway of a non-routed ground segment network, wherein the non-routed ground segment network comprises at least one core node communicatively coupled at Layer-2 (L2) of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model with the first satellite gateway and a second satellite gateway;

tagging, by the first satellite gateway, the subscriber terminal traffic with a virtual tagging tuple associated with a service provider, the virtual tagging tuple designating the subscriber terminal traffic as service provider traffic; and

switching, at L2, the tagged subscriber traffic via the non-routed ground segment network to a service provider network associated with the service provider according to the virtual tagging tuple.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider network is coupled with the non-routed ground segment network at an enterprise head-end located in a core node of the non-routed ground segment network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider network is coupled with the non-routed ground segment network at an enterprise head-end located in the second satellite gateway of the non-routed ground segment network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching comprises switching the tagged subscriber traffic to the service provider network via the at least one core node of the non-routed ground segment network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is associated with a reserved portion of a link capacity of the non-routed ground segment network between the first satellite gateway and the service provider network.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the non-routed ground segment network services the service provider traffic according to a quality of service structure and according to the reserved portion of the link capacity.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is defined by an element indicating the service provider.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is further defined by a second element indicating a location of the service provider network.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is further defined by a second element indicating a service offering.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider is at least one of a DSL provider, an Internet service provider, or an enterprise customer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the service provider network is coupled with the non-routed ground segment network at an enterprise head-end, the enterprise head-end comprising an addressable node of a subnet spanning the at least one core node and the first and second satellite gateways.

12. A system for providing extension services via a satellite networking system, the system comprising:

a non-routed ground segment network comprising;

a first satellite gateway in operative communication via a satellite with a plurality of customers associated with a service provider; and

at least one core node in communication at Layer-2 (L2) of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model with the first satellite gateway and a second satellite gateway; and

an enterprise head-end coupled with a service provider network associated with the service provider, the service provider being associated with a virtual tagging tuple,

wherein the first satellite gateway receives subscriber terminal traffic from the plurality of customers and tags the subscriber terminal traffic with the virtual tagging tuple, and wherein the non-routed ground segment network is configured to switch, at L2, the tagged subscriber terminal traffic to the enterprise head-end according to the virtual tagging tuple.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the enterprise head-end is located in a core node of the non-routed ground segment network.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein enterprise head end is located in the second satellite gateway of the non-routed ground segment network.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is associated with a reserved portion of a link capacity of the non-routed ground segment network between the first satellite gateway and the service provider network.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is defined by an element indicating the service provider.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is further defined by a second element indicating a location of the service provider network.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is further defined by a second element indicating a service offering.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the second satellite gateway is in operative communication with a second plurality of customers associated with a second service provider via the second satellite gateway, and wherein the second satellite gateway receives second subscriber terminal traffic from the second plurality of customers tagged with a second virtual tagging tuple designating the second subscriber terminal traffic as second service provider traffic associated with the second service provider, and the non-routed ground segment network is configured to switch the tagged second subscriber terminal traffic of the second plurality of customers to a second service provider network associated with the second service provider according to the second virtual tagging tuple.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium for providing extension services via a satellite networking system, the non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to:

receive traffic from a subscriber terminal at a first satellite gateway of a non-routed ground segment network, wherein the non-routed ground segment network comprises at least one core node communicatively coupled at Layer-2 (L2) of the Open System Interconnection (OSI) Model with the first satellite gateway and a second satellite gateway;

tag, by the first satellite gateway, the subscriber terminal traffic with a virtual tagging tuple associated with a service provider, the virtual tagging tuple designating the subscriber terminal traffic as service provider traffic; and

switch, at L2, the tagged subscriber traffic via the non-routed ground segment network to a service provider network associated with the service provider according to the virtual tagging tuple.