# US 10,873,477 B2 · Methods and systems for transmitting information packets through tunnel groups at a network node > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,477 B2 - Document ID: US10873477B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/766,756 - Filed: 2017-02-11 - Published: 2020-07-30 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-11 - Assignees: Pismo Labs Technology Limited - Applicants: Pismo Labs Technology Limited - Inventors: Patrick Ho Wai Sung; Kam Chiu Ng; Wan Chun Leung; Ho Ming Chan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873477B2 ## CPC - H04L 12/4633: {Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling} - H04L 47/125: by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering - H04L 47/41: by acting on aggregated flows or links - Y02D 30/50: in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract The present invention discloses methods and systems for sending information packets through a plurality of aggregated tunnels established between a first network node and a second network node. Each aggregated tunnel is comprised of at least one tunnel and at least one of the two network nodes has at least two network interfaces. In order to send an information packet, it is first determined whether the information packet satisfies at least one policy. If at least one policy is satisfied, the information packet is sent using an aggregated tunnel corresponding to the satisfied policy. If no policy is satisfied, the information packet is sent using a network interface of the first node without using an aggregated tunnel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of sending information packets through at least one aggregated tunnel in a plurality of aggregated tunnels from a first network node to a second network node, wherein the plurality of aggregated tunnels is established between the first network node and the second network node, comprising: (a) determining whether an information packet satisfies at least one policy in a plurality of policies; (b) when at least one policy in the plurality of policies is satisfied: selecting a satisfied policy in the plurality of policies; using the selected satisfied policy to select an aggregated tunnel; and sending the information packet via the selected aggregated tunnel; wherein the selected aggregated tunnel is in the plurality of aggregated tunnels; and (c) when none of the policies are satisfied, sending the information packet through at least one network interface of the first network node; wherein at least one of the first network node and second network node has at least two network interfaces. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting, when more than one policy is satisfied, a policy having the highest priority among the satisfied policies as the selected satisfied policy. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein each tunnel in the plurality of aggregated tunnels is established based on a respective corresponding profile. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the policies in the plurality of policies are entered by a user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the policies in the plurality of policies are retrieved from a remote server. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one policy in the plurality of policies is satisfied when all conditions of the at least one policy in the plurality of policies are satisfied. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the conditions are selected from a group consisting of a source address of the information packets, a destination address of the information packets, and a payload of the information packets. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first network node comprises a plurality of network ports; and tunnels in the plurality of aggregated tunnels are established using communication links connected to the plurality of network ports. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein: the first network node comprises a plurality of cellular communication modules; and tunnels in the plurality of aggregated tunnels are established using network interfaces provided by the plurality of cellular communication modules. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein (b) further comprises selecting a tunnel in the selected aggregated tunnel via which to send each of the information packets. ### Claim 11 A system, comprising: a first network node; a second network node; and a plurality of aggregated tunnels established between the first network node and the second network node; wherein the first network node comprises: at least one network interface; at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium for storing program instructions; and at least one processing unit; and wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processing unit to send information packets from the first network node to the second network node through at least one aggregated tunnel in the plurality of aggregated tunnels by: (a) determining whether an information packet satisfies at least one policy in a plurality of policies; (b) when at least one policy in the plurality of policies is satisfied: selecting a satisfied policy in the plurality of policies; using the selected satisfied policy to select an aggregated tunnel; and sending the information packet via the selected aggregated tunnel; wherein the selected aggregated tunnel is in the plurality of aggregated tunnels; (c) when none of the policies are satisfied, sending the information packet without using any of the plurality of aggregated tunnels through one of the at least one network interface of the first network node; wherein at least one of the first network node and second network has at least two network interfaces. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the program instructions are configured to cause the at least one processing unit to select, when more than one policy is satisfied, a policy having the highest priority among the satisfied policies as the selected satisfied policy. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein each aggregated tunnel in the plurality of aggregated tunnels is established based on a respective corresponding profile. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the policies in the plurality of policies are entered by a user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the policies in the plurality of policies are retrieved from a remote server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the at least one policy in the plurality of policies is satisfied when all conditions of the at least one policy in the plurality of policies are satisfied. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the conditions are selected from a group consisting of a source address of the information packets, a destination address of the information packets, and a payload of the information packets. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the first network node further comprises a plurality of network ports; and tunnels in the plurality of aggregated tunnels are established using communication links connected to the plurality of network ports. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein: the first network node comprises a plurality of cellular communication modules and tunnels in the plurality of aggregated tunnels are established using network interfaces provided by the plurality of cellular communication modules. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein (b) further comprises selecting a tunnel in the selected aggregated tunnel via which to send each of the information packets.