System and method for identifying a subscriber for connection to a communication network

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, the particular virtual circuit coupling the particular subscriber to a particular one of a plurality of access servers;
• 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;
• and
• an access server assigned to the particular subscriber;
• 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 and an identifier of the particular access server coupled to the particular subscriber.

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, the path information for the particular subscriber further identifying an access server assigned to the particular subscriber;
• 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 and an identifier of the access server coupled to the particular subscriber.

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, the particular virtual circuit coupling the particular subscriber to a particular one of a plurality of access servers;
• 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;
• and
• an access server assigned to the particular subscriber;
• 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 and an identifier of the particular access server coupled to the particular subscriber.

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 request comprising:
• interface information identifying the interface coupled to the particular subscriber;
• virtual circuit information identifying the particular virtual circuit;
• and
• access server information identifying the access server;
• 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 request comprising:
• interface information identifying an interface of an access server coupled to the particular subscriber;
• virtual circuit information identifying the particular virtual circuit;
• and
• access server information identifying the access server;
• 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, the particular virtual circuit coupling the particular subscriber to a particular one of a plurality of access servers;
• 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;
• and
• an access server assigned to the particular subscriber;
• 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 and an identifier of the particular access server coupled to the particular subscriber.