Access node/gateway to access node/gateway layer-2 connectivity (end-to-end)

• US 8,345,650 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Original Assignee: ViaSat Incorporated
• Inventors: Foxworthy, Michael, Chandran, Girish, Lau, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Rutkowski, Jeffrey M
• Application Number:
  US12/761,858
• Publication Number:
  US 20100265877A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 370/310, 370/338, 370/349, 370/389, 370/392, 370/399, 370/409, 370/469, 370474-476, 370902-903, 709/238, 709/243, 455/12.1, 455/13.1, 455/13.3
• US Class Current: 370/338
• 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:

a bent pipe satellite configured to receive signals from one or more user terminals and to relay the signals at layer-1 of the OSI-model (L1) to a first non-autonomous gateway configured for processing primarily below layer-3 of the OSI-model (L3);

wherein the first non-autonomous gateway is configured to demodulate the signals relayed from the bent pipe satellite and to generate from the demodulated signals data packets having packet headers for layer-2 of the OSI-model (L2), wherein the packet headers contain virtual tagging tuples, each data packet including a virtual tagging tuple;

a ground-based L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway, the ground-based L2 switch configured to receive the data packets and to transmit the data packets; and

a second non-autonomous gateway in communication with the ground-based L2 switch, the second non-autonomous gateway configured to receive the data packets from the ground-based L2 switch and to transmit the data packets to an entity based on each of the virtual tagging tuples associated with each of the data 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 ground-based 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 virtual tagging tuples designate at least one strand 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 of the one or more user terminals coupled with the bent pipe satellite, wherein the user terminal is configured to transmit signals to the bent pipe satellite and to receive different signals from the bent pipe satellite.

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 user 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 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:

receiving, by a bent pipe satellite, signals from one or more user terminals;

relaying, by the bent pipe satellite at layer-1 of the OSI-model (L1), the signals to a first non-autonomous gateway configured for processing primarily below layer-3 of the OSI-model (L3);

demodulating, by the first non-autonomous gateway, the signals relayed from the bent pipe satellite;

generating, by the first non-autonomous gateway, from the demodulated signals data packets having packet headers for layer-2 of the OSI-model (L2), wherein the packet headers contain virtual tagging tuples, wherein each data packet includes a virtual tagging tuple;

receiving, at a ground-based L2 switch in communication with the first non-autonomous gateway, the data packets;

transmitting, by the ground-based L2 switch, the data packets;

receiving, by a second non-autonomous gateway in communication with the ground-based L2 switch, the data packets; and

transmitting, by the second non-autonomous gateway, the data packets to an entity based on each of the virtual tagging tuples associated with each of the data 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 virtual tagging tuples designate at least one strand 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 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.