Customer site bridged emulated LAN services via provider provisioned connections

Abstract

Methods for provisioning Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) services are presented. The methods provide for Protocol Data Unit (PDU) transport in service provider and carrier communications networks using tunneling technologies via virtual connections established between Provider Edge equipment (PEs), providing learning bridge functionality at Customer Located Equipment (CLE), while PEs multiplex VLAN traffic onto the tunnels based on VLAN IDentifiers, with each VLAN ID corresponding to a peer remote site participating in a customer VLAN. Advantages are derived from a less restrictive use of VLAN IDs which need only be unique in the access network portion of the service provider's network, Media Access Control ADDRess (MAC ADDRs) tracking is performed only by peer CLEs which store only peer MAC ADDRs, automatic MAC ADDR—VLAN ID associativity determination via the CLE performed learning bridge function, thereby reducing virtual private LAN service provisioning.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.