System and method for detecting subscriber loops
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorDouglas M. Weismann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A network device coupled to subscribers using a first communication network determines whether to forward communications from a particular subscriber to other components of a system based upon whether the subscriber is a part of a subscriber loop. The network device determines whether the subscriber is a part of a subscriber loop based upon the communications received from the subscriber and subscriber associations stored at the network device.
Claims31
A network device for detecting subscriber loops, comprising:
- a first network interface coupled to a plurality of subscribers using a communication network having a plurality of virtual circuits, each subscriber associated with a physical address;
- a memory coupled to the first network interface and operable to store a plurality of subscriber associations, each subscriber association specifying a physical address of a corresponding subscriber and one of the plurality of virtual circuits;
- a processor coupled to the memory;
- and
- a second network interface coupled to the processor;
- wherein the first network interface is operable to receive a communication from a source subscriber, the communication identifying a destination, and the second network interface is operable to forward the communication toward the destination if the processor determines that a particular subscriber association stored in the memory specifies the physical address of the source subscriber and the virtual circuit used to receive the communication.
A method for controlling subscriber loops, comprising:
- receiving a communication from a source subscriber using a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with a communication network, the communication identifying a destination;
- storing in a memory a plurality of subscriber associations, each subscriber association specifying a physical address associated with a corresponding subscriber and one of the plurality of virtual circuits;
- and
- forwarding the communication toward the destination if a particular subscriber association specifies the physical address of the source subscriber and the virtual circuit used to receive the communication.
A computer program for controlling subscriber loops, the program encoded on a computer-readable medium and operable to execute the following steps:
- receiving a communication from a source subscriber using a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with a communication network, the communication identifying a destination;
- storing in a memory a plurality of subscriber associations, each subscriber association specifying a physical address associated with a corresponding subscriber and one of the plurality of virtual circuits;
- and
- forwarding the communication toward the destination if a particular subscriber association specifies the physical address of the source particular subscriber and the virtual circuit used to receive the communication.
A means for controlling subscriber loops, comprising:
- a means for receiving a communication from a source subscriber using a particular one of a plurality of virtual circuits associated with a communication network, the communication identifying a destination;
- a means for storing a plurality of subscriber associations, each subscriber association specifying a physical address associated with a corresponding subscriber and one of the plurality of virtual circuits;
- and
- a means for forwarding the communication toward the destination if a particular subscriber association specifies the physical address of the source subscriber and the virtual circuit used to receive the communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.