Servicing both virtualized and non-virtualized customer premises equipment in a unified platform

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more sequences of instructions for a virtual Broadband Network Gateway (vBNG), which when executed, cause:

• the vBNG, on a cable network, receiving a packet over an upstream channel from a physical unit of customer premises equipment (CPE);
• the vBNG determining whether the packet is associated with a corresponding virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) instance, wherein said vCPE instance is a software representation of said physical unit that resides upstream from said vBNG;
• upon the vBNG determining that the packet is not associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vBNG processing the packet and forwarding a response over the cable network;
• and
• upon the vBNG determining that the packet is associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vBNG forwarding the packet for processing to said corresponding vCPE instance over a unicast UDP tunnel which originates at said vBNG.

An apparatus for a virtual Cable Modem Termination System (vCMTS), comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums storing one or more sequences of instruction, which when executed, cause:
• the vCMTS, on a cable network, receiving a packet over an upstream channel from a physical unit of customer premises equipment (CPE);
• the vCMTS determining whether the packet is associated with a corresponding virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) instance, wherein said vCPE instance is a software representation of said physical unit that resides upstream from said vCMTS;
• upon the vCMTS determining that the packet is not associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vCMTS processing the packet and forwarding a response over the cable network;
• and
• upon the vCMTS determining that the packet is associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vCMTS forwarding the packet for processing to said corresponding vCPE instance over a unicast UDP tunnel which originates at said vCMTS.

An apparatus for a virtual Broadband Network Gateway (vBNG), comprising:

• one or more processors;
• and
• one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums storing one or more sequences of instruction, which when executed, cause:
• the vBNG, on a cable network, receiving a packet over an upstream channel from a physical unit of customer premises equipment (CPE);
• the vBNG determining whether the packet is associated with a corresponding virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) instance, wherein said vCPE instance is a software representation of said physical unit that resides upstream from said vBNG;
• upon the vBNG determining that the packet is not associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vBNG processing the packet and forwarding a response over the cable network;
• and
• upon the vBNG determining that the packet is associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vBNG forwarding the packet for processing to said corresponding vCPE instance over a unicast UDP tunnel which originates at said vBNG.

A method for a virtual Cable Modem Termination System (vCMTS), comprising:

• the vCMTS, on a cable network, receiving a packet over an upstream channel from a physical unit of customer premises equipment (CPE);
• the vCMTS determining whether the packet is associated with a corresponding virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) instance, wherein said vCPE instance is a software representation of said physical unit that resides upstream from said vCMTS;
• upon the vCMTS determining that the packet is not associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vCMTS processing the packet and forwarding a response over the cable network;
• and
• upon the vCMTS determining that the packet is associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vCMTS forwarding the packet for processing to said corresponding vCPE instance over a unicast UDP tunnel which originates at said vCMTS.

A method for a virtual Broadband Network Gateway (vBNG), further comprising:

• the vBNG, on a cable network, receiving a packet over an upstream channel from a physical unit of customer premises equipment (CPE);
• the vBNG determining whether the packet is associated with a corresponding virtual customer premises equipment (vCPE) instance, wherein said vCPE instance is a software representation of said physical unit that resides upstream from said vBNG;
• upon the vBNG determining that the packet is not associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vBNG processing the packet and forwarding a response over the cable network;
• and
• upon the vBNG determining that the packet is associated with a corresponding vCPE instance, the vBNG forwarding the packet for processing to said corresponding vCPE instance over a unicast UDP tunnel which originates at said vBNG.