Private network access point router for interconnecting among internet route providers

A packet-switched network comprising:

• a Private Network Access Point (PNAP) having a customer side and a service provider side;
• at least a first customer and a second customer connected to the customer side of the PNAP;
• a plurality of service providers connected to the service provider side of the PNAP;
• and
• an interconnected network system accessible to said plurality of service providers and to said first and second customers;
• wherein the PNAP routing infrastructure within said PNAP contains a routing table listing all routes to all destinations in the network, along with a parameter indicating the degree of preference attached to each route of a set of identical routes from multiple sources;
• wherein said PNAP routing infrastructure lists a direct connection between said first and second customers within said customer side of the PNAP.

A method for exchanging traffic in a packet-switched network, comprising:

• providing a Private Network Access Point (PNAP) having a customer side and a service provider side;
• connecting at least a first customer and a second customer to the customer side of the PNAP;
• connecting at least one service provider to the service provider side of the PNAP;
• making an interconnected network system accessible to said service provider and to said first and second customers;
• and
• causing traffic between said first and second customers to be exchanged through the PNAP without transiting over said service provider.

A method for exchanging traffic in a packet-switched network, comprising:

• providing a Private Network Access Point (PNAP) having a customer side and a service provider side;
• connecting at least a first customer and a second customer to the customer side of the PNAP;
• connecting at least one service provider to the service provider side of the PNAP;
• and
• making an interconnected network system accessible to said service provider and to said first and second customers;
• wherein the PNAP routing infrastructure within said PNAP contains a routing table listing all routes to all destinations in the network, along with a parameter indicating the degree of preference attached to each route of a set of identical routes from multiple sources;
• wherein said PNAP routing infrastructure lists a direct connection between said first and second customers within said customer side of the PNAP.

A packet-switched network comprising:

• a Private Network Access Point (PNAP) having a customer side and a service provider side;
• at least one customer connected to the customer side of the PNAP;
• at least one service provider connected to the service provider side of the PNAP;
• and
• an interconnected network system accessible to said service provider and to said customer;
• wherein said customer is connected to a service provider who is also connected to the service provider side of the PNAP so that said customer is multi-homed;
• wherein said multi-homed customer is provided a routing table listing all routes to all destinations in the network, along with a community attribute denoting the preferred reachability of a given route over the customer non-PNAP connection;
• and
• wherein said multi-homed customer can utilize the ASimilator data received over the BGP feed from the PNAP and send traffic to a destination served by said service provider through said customer's connection to said service provider by using said routing table to set route preferences in a router maintained by said customer.

A packet-switched method for exchanging traffic in a packet-switched network, comprising:

• providing a Private Network Access Point (PNAP) having a customer side and a service provider side;
• connecting at least one customer to the customer side of the PNAP;
• connecting at least one service provider to the service provider side of the PNAP;
• making an interconnected network system accessible to said service provider and to said customer;
• wherein said customer is connected to a service provider who is also connected to the service provider side of the PNAP so that said customer is multi-homed;
• providing said multi-homed customer a routing table listing all routes to all destinations in the network, along with a community attribute denoting the preferred reachability of a given route over the customer non-PNAP connection;
• and
• allowing said multi-homed customer to utilize the ASimilator data received over the BGP feed from the PNAP and send traffic to a destination served by said service provider through said customer's connection to said service provider by using said routing table to set route preferences in a router maintained by said customer.