Layer-2 extension services

• US 9,887,766 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2016
• Issued: 02/06/2018
• 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:
  US15/208,406
• Publication Number:
  US 20170117953A1
• Time in Patent Office: 574 Days
• 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 comprising:

receiving, at a non-routed ground segment network, traffic originating at a service provider network associated with a service provider and destined for a subscriber terminal associated with the service provider, wherein the traffic is tagged with a virtual tagging tuple associated with the service provider, the virtual tagging tuple designating the traffic as service provider traffic;

switching the tagged traffic to a first satellite gateway of a plurality of satellite gateways within the non-routed ground segment network, wherein the first satellite gateway is configured to service the subscriber terminal; and

transmitting the traffic from the first satellite gateway to the subscriber terminal via a satellite.

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.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the enterprise head-end is located in one of a core node of the non-routed ground segment network or a second satellite gateway of the plurality of satellite gateways.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the switching comprises switching the tagged traffic to the first satellite gateway via 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 one or more elements indicating at least one of the service provider or a service offering.

8. 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.

9. 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 first satellite gateway and at least a second satellite gateway of the plurality of satellite gateways.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a second subscriber terminal associated with the service provider is serviced via a second gateway of the plurality of satellite gateways, and wherein the subscriber terminal and the second subscriber terminal are addressable via a same subnet.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the first satellite gateway is configured to service a second subscriber terminal associated with a second service provider, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the non-routed ground segment network, second traffic originating at a second service provider network associated with the second service provider and destined for the second subscriber terminal, wherein the traffic is tagged with a second virtual tagging tuple associated with the second service provider, the second virtual tagging tuple designating the second traffic as second service provider traffic;

switching the tagged second traffic to the first satellite gateway; and

transmitting the second traffic from the first satellite gateway to the second subscriber terminal via the satellite.

12. A 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 a plurality of satellite gateways;

tagging, by the first satellite gateway, the 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 the tagged traffic via the non-routed ground segment network to a service provider network associated with the service provider according to the virtual tagging tuple.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the service provider network is coupled with the non-routed ground segment network at an enterprise head-end.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the enterprise head-end is located in one of a core node of the non-routed ground segment network or a second satellite gateway of the plurality of satellite gateways.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the switching comprises switching the tagged traffic to the service provider network via at least one core node of the non-routed ground segment network.

16. The method 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.

17. The method of claim 16, 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.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the virtual tagging tuple is defined by one or more elements indicating at least one of the service provider, a location of the service provider network, or a service offering.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the service provider is at least one of a DSL provider, an Internet service provider, or an enterprise customer.

20. The method of claim 12, 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 first satellite gateway and a second satellite gateway of the plurality of satellite gateways.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein a second subscriber terminal associated with the service provider is serviced via a second gateway of the plurality of satellite gateways, and wherein the subscriber terminal and the second subscriber terminal are addressable via a same subnet.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the first satellite gateway is configured to service a second subscriber terminal associated with a second service provider, the method further comprising:

receiving, at the first satellite gateway, second traffic from the second subscriber terminal;

tagging the second traffic with a second virtual tagging tuple designating the second traffic as second service provider traffic associated with the second service provider; and

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