Hierarchical optical VPNs in a carrier's carrier VPN environment
OwnerHamid Ould-Brahiminventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of arranging, and a system of hierarchically arranged optical virtual private networks in a carrier's carrier virtual private network (VPN) are disclosed. The system has the hierarchical virtual private networks configured such that each VPN in the hierarchical network is affiliated to another VPN as a father or son VPN. Each son VPN has only one father VPN, and each father VPN is responsible for services and connections to its affiliated son VPNs. The system of hierarchical optical VPNs disclosed is particularly useful for allowing a carrier's carrier to provide the management functions for the clients of the carrier.
Claims18
A network comprising:
- a set of elements interconnected by services;
- at least one first subset of said elements defining a private network;
- at least one second subset of elements different from said first subset defining a provider network wherein at least two subgroups of said first subset of elements may be connected via said provider network;
- a services hierarchy wherein virtual private networks are defined on said second subset of elements;
- said services hierarchy comprising a father virtual private network and at least one affiliated son virtual private network;
- each son virtual private network having at most one affiliated father virtual private network;
- each father virtual private network responsible for associating services and responsible for associating connections for said at least one affiliated son virtual private network;
- and
- said provider network having a means for associating elements comprising said father virtual private network.
A method of organizing a network having a set of elements interconnected by services, wherein at least one first subset of said elements defines a private network and at least one second subset of elements different from said first subset defines a provider network and wherein at least two subgroups of said first subset of elements may be connected via said provider network, said method comprising:
- establishing a services hierarchy wherein virtual private networks are defined on said second subset of elements;
- establishing within said services hierarchy a father virtual private network and at least one affiliated son virtual private network wherein each son virtual private network has at most one affiliated father virtual private network;
- establishing each father virtual private network as responsible for associating services and responsible for associating connections for said at least one affiliated son virtual private network;
- and
- providing a function for provider network associating elements comprising said father virtual private network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.