Access network dual path connectivity

A system for transporting data frames using a virtual tunnel, the system comprising:

• communications circuitry;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• maintain connectivity between a first access network and a second access network over a dynamic route, using (i) an origin device coupled to the first access network and (ii) a primary edge device and a secondary edge device both coupled to the second access network, wherein the dynamic route comprises a shared virtual tunnel across a transport network from the origin device to both of the primary edge device and the secondary edge device;
• and
• in response to receiving a notification of failure of a first respective link from an affected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, route a multicast transmission to the second access network by the unaffected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, via a second respective link, independently of a multicast transmission designation;
• identify a second transmission as a unicast transmission having a recipient in the second access network;
• designate the unicast transmission, by the origin device, to correspond to either the primary edge device or the secondary edge device;
• subsequent to receiving the notification of failure of the first respective link at the unaffected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, receive the unicast transmission from the affected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, wherein the unaffected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device was not designated by the unicast transmission designation;
• and
• transmit the unicast transmission, by the unaffected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, to the second access network via the second respective link.

A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

• maintaining connectivity between a first access network and a second access network over a dynamic route, using (i) an origin device coupled to the first access network and (ii) a primary edge device and a secondary edge device both coupled to the second access network, wherein the dynamic route comprises a shared virtual tunnel across a transport network from the origin device to both of the primary edge device and the secondary edge device;
• in response to receiving the notification of failure of a first respective link from an affected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, routing a multicast transmission to the second access network by an unaffected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, via a second respective link, independently of a multicast transmission designation;
• identifying a second transmission as a unicast transmission having a recipient in the second access network;
• designating the unicast transmission, by the origin device, to correspond to either the primary edge device or the secondary edge device;
• subsequent to the receiving the notification of failure of the first respective link at the unaffected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, receiving the unicast transmission from the affected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, wherein the unaffected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device was not designated by the unicast transmission designation;
• and
• transmitting the unicast transmission, by the unaffected one of the primary edge device or the secondary edge device, to the second access network via the second respective link.