System and Method for Identifying a Subscriber for Connection to a Communication Network

A system for identifying a subscriber, comprising:

• an access server coupled to a plurality of subscribers using a first communication network and further coupled to a second communication network, the access server operable to receive a communication from a particular subscriber using a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with the first communication network;
• a memory coupled to the access server and operable to store path information for the plurality of subscribers, the path information for the particular subscriber identifying a virtual circuit that is pre-assigned to the particular subscriber for communicating with the access server;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and operable to:
• compare the path information for the particular subscriber to the particular virtual circuit used to receive the communication from the particular subscriber;
• and
• identify the particular subscriber for connection to the second communication network based on the comparison.

A method for identifying a subscriber, comprising:

• receiving a communication from a particular one of a plurality of subscribers using a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with a first communication network;
• storing path information for the plurality of subscribers, the path information for the particular subscriber identifying a virtual circuit that is pre-assigned to the particular subscriber for communicating with an access server;
• comparing the path information for the particular subscriber to the particular virtual circuit used to receive the communication from the particular subscriber;
• and
• identifying the particular subscriber for connection to a second communication network based on the comparison.

An information server, comprising:

• a memory operable to store path information for a plurality of subscribers coupled to an access server using a plurality of virtual circuits associated with a first communication network, the path information for a particular subscriber in the plurality of subscribers identifying a virtual circuit that is pre-assigned to the particular subscriber for communicating with the access server;
• and
• a processor coupled to the memory and operable to:
• compare the path information for the particular subscriber to a particular virtual circuit that couples the particular subscriber to the access server;
• and
• identify a particular subscriber for connection to a second communication network based on the comparison.

A method for identifying a subscriber, comprising:

• receiving a request identifying a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with a first communication network, wherein the particular virtual circuit is used by an access server to receive a communication from a particular one of a plurality of subscribers;
• storing path information for the plurality of subscribers, the path information for the particular subscriber identifying a virtual circuit that is pre-assigned to the particular subscriber for communicating with the access server;
• comparing the path information for the particular subscriber to the particular virtual circuit used by the access server to receive the communication from the particular subscriber;
• and
• identifying the particular subscriber for connection to a second communication network based on the comparison.

An access server, comprising:

• an interface coupled to a plurality of subscribers using a first communication network and operable to receive a communication from a particular subscriber using a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with the first communication network;
• a controller coupled to the interface and operable to communicate a request to an information server for identifying the particular subscriber based on a comparison between path information for the particular subscriber and the particular virtual circuit used to receive the communication from the particular subscriber, the path information for the particular subscriber identifying a virtual circuit that is pre-assigned to the particular subscriber for communicating with the access server, the request identifying the particular virtual circuit used to receive the communication from the particular subscriber;
• and
• a route processor coupled to the controller and operable to support a communication session between the particular subscriber and a second communication network in response to identifying the particular subscriber based on the comparison.

A method for identifying a subscriber, comprising:

• receiving a communication from a particular one of a plurality of subscribers using a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with a first communication network;
• communicating a request to an information server for identifying the particular subscriber based on a comparison between path information for the particular subscriber and the particular virtual circuit used to receive the communication from the particular subscriber, the path information for the particular subscriber identifying a virtual circuit that is pre-assigned to the particular subscriber for communicating with the access server, the request identifying the particular virtual circuit used to receive the communication from the particular subscriber;
• and
• supporting a communication session between the particular subscriber and a second communication network in response to identifying the particular subscriber based on the comparison.

A computer program for identifying a subscriber, the program encoded on a computer-readable medium and operable to execute the following steps:

• receiving a communication from a particular one of a plurality of subscribers using a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with a first communication network;
• storing path information for the plurality of subscribers, the path information for the particular subscriber identifying a virtual circuit that is pre-assigned to the particular subscriber for communicating with an access server;
• comparing the path information for the particular subscriber to the particular virtual circuit used to receive the communication from the particular subscriber;
• and
• identifying the particular subscriber for connection to a second communication network based on the comparison.