System and method for communicating in a loadbalancing environment

• US 20050188065A1
• Filed: 07/10/2002
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Leung, Kent K., Patel, Alpesh S., O'Rourke, Chris, Menditto, Louis F., Batz, Robert M., Glotzer, John M., Dabboussi, Rabih A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,951 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2859 Point-to-point connection between the data network and the subscribers encapsulation H04L12/4633; virtual LANs H04L12/4641; routing of packets H04L45/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling

Abstract

A method for communicating in a loadbalancing environment is provided that in a particular embodiment includes receiving a request packet from a network access server (NAS) to initiate a communication session. The request packet is then communicated to a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) and a response packet is received in response to the request packet. The response packet establishes a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS.

Claims

1. A method for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, the method comprising:

receiving a request packet from a network access server (NAS) to initiate a communication session;

communicating the request packet to a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS); and

receiving a response packet in response to the request packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the TPNS such that the NAS may communicate the data transfer to the TPNS.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the data transfer between the TPNS and the NAS originates from a server that is coupled to a network and that is sought to be accessed by the end user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a communications platform for the communication session and the tunnel with an access network, the access network operable to provide a communicative interface between the NAS and the TPNS.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request packet is communicated through a radio access network (RAN) and the NAS before reaching a loadbalancer that facilitates establishment of the tunnel.

7. A method for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, the method comprising:

receiving a request packet from a foreign agent to initiate a communication session;

communicating the request packet to a home agent; and

receiving a response packet in response to the request packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the home agent such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the foreign agent and the home agent.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

authenticating an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the home agent such that the foreign agent may communicate the data transfer to the home agent.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

identifying movement by an end user associated with the communication session from a first service area to a second service area; and

directing the data transfer to an additional foreign agent associated with the second service area such that the communication session is handed off between foreign agents while maintaining the communication session.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the data transfer between the home agent and the foreign agent originates from a server that is coupled to a network and that is sought to be accessed by an end user associated with the communication session.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

providing a communications platform for the communication session and the tunnel with an access network, the access network operable to provide a communicative interface between the foreign agent and an end user associated with the communication session.

13. A system for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, comprising:

means for receiving a request packet from a network access server (NAS) to initiate a communication session;

means for communicating the request packet to a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS); and

means for receiving a response packet in response to the request packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for authenticating an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the TPNS such that the NAS may communicate the data transfer to the TPNS.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the data transfer between the TPNS and the NAS originates from a server that is coupled to a network and that is sought to be accessed by the end user.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for providing a communications platform for the communication session and the tunnel with an access network, the access network operable to provide a communicative interface between the NAS and the TPNS.

18. A system for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, comprising:

means for receiving a request packet from a foreign agent to initiate a communication session;

means for communicating the request packet to a home agent; and

means for receiving a response packet in response to the request packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the home agent such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the foreign agent and the home agent.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for authenticating an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the home agent such that the foreign agent may communicate the data transfer to the home agent.

21. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for identifying movement by an end user associated with the communication session from a first service area to a second service area; and

means for directing the data transfer to an additional foreign agent associated with the second service area such that the communication session is handed off between foreign agents while maintaining the communication session.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the data transfer between the home agent and the foreign agent originates from a server that is coupled to a network and that is sought to be accessed by an end user associated with the communication session.

23. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for providing a communications platform for the communication session and the tunnel with an access network, the access network operable to provide a communicative interface between the foreign agent and an end user associated with the communication session.

24. Software for communicating in a loadbalancing environment that is embodied in a computer readable media and operable to:

receive a request packet from a network access server (NAS) to initiate a communication session;

communicate the request packet to a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS); and

receive a response packet in response to the request packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS.

25. The software of claim 24, further operable to:

authenticate an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.

26. The software of claim 24, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the TPNS such that the NAS may communicate the data transfer to the TPNS.

27. The software of claim 24, further operable to:

provide a communications platform for the communication session and the tunnel with an access network, the access network operable to provide a communicative interface between the NAS and the TPNS.

28. Software for communicating in a loadbalancing environment that is embodied in a computer readable media and operable to:

receive a request packet from a foreign agent to initiate a communication session;

communicate the request packet to a home agent; and

receive a response packet in response to the request packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the home agent such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the foreign agent and the home agent.

29. The software of claim 28, further operable to:

authenticate an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.

30. The software of claim 28, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the home agent such that the foreign agent may communicate the data transfer to the home agent.

31. The software of claim 28, further operable to:

identify movement by an end user associated with the communication session from a first service area to a second service area; and

direct the data transfer to an additional foreign agent associated with the second service area such that the communication session is handed off between foreign agents while maintaining the communication session.

32. An apparatus for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, comprising:

a loadbalancer operable to receive a request packet from a network access server (NAS) operable to generate the request packet that initiates a communication session, wherein a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) is operable to receive the request packet from the loadbalancer and in response to the request packet generate a response packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server operable to authenticate an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the TPNS such that the NAS may communicate the data transfer to the TPNS.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the data transfer between the TPNS and the NAS originates from a server that is coupled to a network and that is sought to be accessed by the end user.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

an access network operable to provide a communications platform for the communication session and the tunnel, wherein the access network is further operable to provide a communicative interface between the NAS and the TPNS.

37. An apparatus for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, comprising:

a loadbalancer operable to receive a request packet from a foreign agent, the foreign agent being operable to generate the request packet in order to initiate a communication session, wherein a home agent is operable to receive the request packet and in response to the request packet generate a response packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the home agent such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the foreign agent and the home agent.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server operable to authenticate an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the home agent such that the foreign agent may communicate the data transfer to the home agent.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

an access network operable to provide a communications platform for the communication session and the tunnel, wherein the access network is further operable to provide a communicative interface between the foreign agent and an end user associated with the communication session.

41. An apparatus for communicating in a loadbalancing environment, comprising:

a network access server (NAS) operable to generate a request packet that initiates a communication session;

a loadbalancer operable to receive the request packet from the NAS;

a tunneling protocol network server (TPNS) operable to receive the request packet from the loadbalancer and in response to the request packet generate a response packet, the response packet establishing a tunnel that facilitates the communication session and that includes an identification element associated with the TPNS such that a data transfer associated with the communication session is executed between the NAS and the TPNS, wherein the identification element includes an internet protocol (IP) address associated with the TPNS such that the NAS may communicate the data transfer to the TPNS; and

an authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) server operable to authenticate an end user associated with the communication session before establishing the tunnel that facilitates the communication session.