Method and apparatus for communicating with an access node
First Claim
1. A method of operating an access network comprising at least one access node and a plurality of network access servers, the access node including a plurality of ports each connected to a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), the method comprising:
- generating data at the access node for transmission to one of the network access servers;
transmitting the data to a relay component together with an access node port identifier;
identifying at the relay component one of the plurality of network access servers to which the data should be sent, including determining, from a lookup table stored within the relay component, a Communications Provider (CP) identifier associated with the access node port identifier and the network access server of the plurality of network access servers associated with the CP identifier;
generating a message for sending to the identified network access server incorporating the data; and
transmitting the generated message to the identified network access server.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An access network comprises a plurality of access nodes (DSLAMs), a plurality of network access servers (CP BRASs) and an ANCP relay. The access network control relay component relays data between an access node and a plurality of network access servers and includes one or more interfaces and associated functionality in an ANCP listener component for enabling a connection between the relay component and the access node, for transmitting data and/or messages thereover, and an interface (ANCP Agents) for a connection to be made with each of the plurality of network access servers (via ANCP listeners contained within the BRASs) for transmitting ANCP messages thereover; and a mapping database for storing mapping data to determine to which network access server a message should be transmitted from the relay component, together with a CP authentication database and a workflow processing component for controlling operation of components within the ANCP relay.
20 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A method of operating an access network comprising at least one access node and a plurality of network access servers, the access node including a plurality of ports each connected to a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), the method comprising:
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generating data at the access node for transmission to one of the network access servers; transmitting the data to a relay component together with an access node port identifier; identifying at the relay component one of the plurality of network access servers to which the data should be sent, including determining, from a lookup table stored within the relay component, a Communications Provider (CP) identifier associated with the access node port identifier and the network access server of the plurality of network access servers associated with the CP identifier; generating a message for sending to the identified network access server incorporating the data; and transmitting the generated message to the identified network access server. - View Dependent Claims (4)
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2. An access network control relay component for relaying data between an access node and a plurality of network access servers within a broadband access network, the access node including a plurality of ports each connected to a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE), the relay component comprising:
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one or more interfaces and associated functionality for enabling a connection to be made between the relay component and the access node, for the transmission of data and/or messages thereover, and for enabling a connection to be made with each of the plurality of network access servers, for the transmission of messages thereover; a receiver for receiving data from the access node together with an access node port identifier; a mapping database for storing mapping data to determine to which network access server a message should be transmitted from the relay component; and a processor for determining, from the mapping database, a Communications Provider (CP) identifier associated with the access node port identifier and the network access server of the plurality of network access servers associated with the CP identifier.
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3. An access network comprising:
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a plurality of access nodes, each access node including a plurality of ports each connected to a Customer Premises Equipment (CPE); a plurality of network access servers; and at least one relay component comprising one or more interfaces and associated functionality for enabling a connection to be made between the relay component and the access node, for the transmission of data and/or messages thereover, and for enabling a connection to be made with each of the plurality of network access servers, for the transmission of messages thereover; a receiver for receiving data from the access node together with an access node port identifier; a mapping database for storing mapping data to determine to which network access server a message should be transmitted from the relay component; and a processor for determining, from the mapping database, a Communications Provider (CP) identifier associated with the access node port identifier and the network access server of the plurality of network access servers associated with the CP identifier.
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Specification