ACCESS NODE/GATEWAY TO ACCESS NODE/GATEWAY LAYER-2 CONNECTIVITY (END-TO-END)

• US 20100265877A1
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Chandran, Girish, Lau, Jason, Foxworthy, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/316
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18513 Transmission in a satellite or space-based system
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4645 Details on frame tagging routing of packets H04L45/00; support for virtual LAN H04L49/354

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing end-to-end L2 connectivity, are described. The system includes satellites configured to transmit data packets. The system further includes a first non-autonomous gateway in communication with the satellites. The first non-autonomous gateway is configured to receive the data packets from the satellites at L1, generate virtual tagging tuples within L2 packet headers of the data packets, and transmit the data packets each including a virtual tagging tuple. The system further includes a L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway. The L2 switch is configured to receive the virtually tagged data packets and transmit the virtually tagged data packets. Further, the system includes a second non-autonomous gateway in communication with the L2 switch. The second non-autonomous gateway configured to receive the virtually tagged data packets and transmit the virtually tagged data packets to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuple associated with each of the virtually tagged packets.

Claims

1. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites, the system comprising:

one or more satellites configured to transmit data packets;

a first non-autonomous gateway in communication with the one or more satellites, the first non-autonomous gateway configured to receive the data packets from the one or more satellites at layer-1 (L1) of the OSI-model, generate a plurality of virtual tagging tuples within the layer-2 (L2) packet headers of the data packets, wherein plurality of data packets each including a virtual tagging tuple;

a L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway, the L2 switch configured to receive the plurality of virtually tagged data packets and transmit the plurality of virtually tagged data packets; and

a second non-autonomous gateway in communication with the L2 switch, the second non-autonomous gateway configured to receive the plurality of virtually tagged data packets and to transmit the plurality of virtually tagged data packets to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuple associated with each of the plurality of virtually tagged packets.

2. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 1, wherein the first and second non-autonomous gateways comprise a gateway module.

3. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 1, wherein the first and second non-autonomous gateways comprise access points.

4. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 1, wherein the first and second non-autonomous gateways are coupled with the L2 switch via an iEEE 802.1Q fiber trunk.

5. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 4, wherein the plurality of virtual tuples designate at least one stand of the iEEE 802.1Q trunk fiber.

6. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 1, further comprising a user terminal coupled with the one or more satellites, wherein the user terminal is configured to transmit data packets to the one or more satellites and to receive data packets from the one or more satellites.

7. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 6, further comprising a plurality of clients in communication with the use terminal.

8. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 6, wherein the first and second non-autonomous gateways are coupled with the user terminal via a LAN PHY connection.

9. A system for providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 1, wherein the plurality of virtual tagging tuples are configured to designate the entity and a location of the entity.

10. A method of providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites, the method comprising:

transmitting, by the one or more satellites, data packets;

receiving, at a first non-autonomous gateway in communication with the one or more satellites, the data packets from the one or more satellites at layer-1 (L1) of the OSI-model;

generating, by the first non-autonomous gateway, a plurality of virtual tagging tuples within the layer-2 (L2) packet headers of the data packets, wherein the plurality of data packets each include a virtual tagging tuple;

receiving, at a L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway, the plurality of virtually tagged data packets;

transmitting, by the L2 switch, the plurality of virtually tagged data packets;

receiving, by a second non-autonomous gateway in communication with the L2 switch, the plurality of virtually tagged data packets; and

transmitting, by the second non-autonomous gateway, the plurality of virtually tagged data packets to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuple associated with each of the plurality of virtually tagged packets.

11. A method of providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 10, wherein the plurality of virtual tuples designate at least one stand of the iEEE 802.1Q trunk fiber.

12. A method of providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 10, further comprising designating, using the virtual tagging tuples, the entity and a location of the entity.

13. A method of providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 12, wherein the location of the entity comprises a branch office of the entity.

14. A method of providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 10, wherein the connectivity between the first non-autonomous gateway and the second non-autonomous gateway is at L2.

15. A method of providing end-to-end layer-2 connectivity throughout a non-routed ground segment network connected to one or more satellites as in claim 10, wherein the first non-autonomous gateway and the second non-autonomous gateway are in communication with a core node at L2.

16. A computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to:

transmit, by the one or more satellites, data packets;

receive, at a first non-autonomous gateway in communication with the one or more satellites, the data packets from the one or more satellites at layer-1 (L1) of the OSI-model;

generate, by the first non-autonomous gateway, a plurality of virtual tagging tuples within the layer-2 (L2) packet headers of the data packets, wherein the plurality of data packets each include a virtual tagging tuple;

receive, at a L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway, the plurality of virtually tagged data packets;

transmit, by the L2 switch, the plurality of virtually tagged data packets;

receive, by a second non-autonomous gateway in communication with the L2 switch, the plurality of virtually tagged data packets; and

transmit, by the second non-autonomous gateway, the plurality of virtually tagged data packets to an entity based on the virtual tagging tuple associated with each of the plurality of virtually tagged packets.

17. A computer-readable medium as in claim 16, wherein the sets of instructions when further executed by the one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to designate, using the virtual tagging tuples, the entity and a location of the entity.

18. A computer-readable medium as in claim 16, wherein the plurality of virtual tuples designate at least one stand of the iEEE 802.1Q trunk fiber.

19. A computer-readable medium as in claim 16, wherein the sets of instructions when further executed by the one or more computers, cause the one or more computers to transmit data packets from a user terminal to the one or more satellites and receive data packets from the one or more satellites.

20. A computer-readable medium as in claim 16, wherein the first and second non-autonomous gateways are coupled with the user terminal via a LAN PHY connection.