US 8,711,865 B2Granted

Auto-provisioning of network services over an Ethernet access link

AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.

InventorUlf Vinneras

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Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes an Ethernet port, for connection to an Ethernet access network providing multiple different services. A plurality of local service ports are provided for connection to items of peripheral customer premises equipment (CPE), each item supporting a different, respective service. A bridge is coupled to convey data frames between the Ethernet port and the local service ports. A controller is coupled to receive via the Ethernet port at least one provisioning message indicating associations between the services and respective Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) identifiers, and to configure the bridge, responsively to the provisioning message, to forward the data frames received via the Ethernet port on each VLAN to a respective service port in accordance with the associations.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An apparatus comprising:

an Ethernet port operable to connect to an Ethernet access network providing multiple different services, the multiple different services selected from a group of services consisting of video, telephony, and data services, each service provided via a different Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) via Ethernet protocol;
a plurality of local service ports operable to connect to items of peripheral customer premises equipment (CPE), each item supporting a different, respective service among the multiple different services provided by the Ethernet access network;
a bridge operable to convey data frames between the Ethernet port and the local service ports;
and
a controller operable to:
determine that the bridge has been connected to the Ethernet access network;
in response to the determination that the bridge has been connected to the Ethernet access network, transmit, via the Ethernet port, an upstream message indicating that the bridge has been connected to the Ethernet access network;
receive, via the Ethernet port, at least one downstream provisioning message indicating associations between the services and respective VLAN identifiers, wherein the at least one downstream provisioning message indicates a different VLAN identifier to be respectively associated with each of the services;
and
in response to the at least one downstream provisioning message, configure the bridge to forward data frames received via the Ethernet port on each VLAN to a respective local service port in accordance with the associations, wherein each data frame comprises a VLAN identifier in accordance with the associations.

7 more elements

A method comprising:

determining that a home access gateway bridge has been connected to a port of an Ethernet access network providing multiple different services, the services selected from a group of services consisting of video, telephony, and data services, each service provided via a different Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) via Ethernet protocol, the home access gateway bridge being between the Ethernet access network and customer premises equipment (CPE) connecting to the services;
in response to the determination that the home access gateway bridge has been connected to the port of the Ethernet access network, transmitting, via an Ethernet port, an upstream message that indicates that the home access gateway bridge has been connected to the port of the Ethernet access network;
receiving, via the Ethernet port, at least one downstream provisioning message indicating associations between the services and respective VLAN identifiers, where the at least one downstream provisioning message indicates a different VLAN identifier to be respectively associated with each of the services;
and
in response to receiving the at least one downstream provisioning message, configuring the home access gateway bridge to deliver the services to the CPE in accordance with the associations, wherein each data frame of the services comprises a VLAN identifier in accordance with the associations.

2 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising logic, the logic, when executed by a controller, operable to:

determine that a home access gateway bridge has been connected to a port of an Ethernet access network providing multiple different services, the services selected from a group of services consisting of video, telephony, and data services, each service provided via a different Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) via Ethernet protocol, the home access gateway bridge being between the Ethernet access network and customer premises equipment (CPE) connecting to the services;
in response to the determination that the home access gateway bridge has been connected to the port of the Ethernet access network, transmit, via an Ethernet port, an upstream message that indicates that the home access gateway bridge has been connected to the port of the Ethernet access network;
receive, via the Ethernet port, at least one downstream provisioning message indicating associations between the services and respective VLAN identifiers, where the at least one downstream provisioning message indicates a different VLAN identifier to be respectively associated with each of the services;
and
in response to receiving the at least one downstream provisioning message, configure the home access gateway bridge to deliver the services to the CPE in accordance with the associations, wherein each data frame of the services comprises a VLAN identifier in accordance with the associations.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/428,946Filed 23 Mar 2012 · continuation
Priority: 21 Nov 2006
Published: US 2012/0182998 A119 Jul 2012
Granted: 29 Apr 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification3 codes

H04L 12/4641
Interconnection of networks: virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN]
H04L 12/2898
Operational details of access network equipments: subscriber equipments
H04L
Digital communication

Family

Application11/603,993Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Nov 2006
US 8,144,699 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Mar 2012
US 2012/0182998 A1Pre-grant publication · published 19 Jul 2012
US 2008/0117902 A1Published application
US 8,711,865 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.