Techniques for routing data between network areas
AssigneeRPX Clearinghouse LLC
InventorsPaul Unbehagen, Roger Lapuh
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for routing data between network area are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as a method for routing data between layer 2 network areas of backbone bridges comprising the steps of receiving data at a network element containing an internally terminated Network to Network Interface (NNI) for a plurality of network areas, identifying a destination address associated with the data, determining a network area of the plurality of network areas associated with the data, and performing one or more data flow treatments associated with the data using the internally terminated Network to Network Interface (NNI).
Claims12
A method of forwarding an internet protocol (IP) packet at a network element comprising, a virtual routing instance communicatively coupling at least two layer 2 network areas, each layer 2 network area being associated with a respective I-SID value, the method comprising:
- receiving, from a source layer 2 network area, an Ethernet frame having an IP packet encapsulated therein, the Ethernet frame comprising a service instance identifier (I-SID) value and at least one destination media access control (MAC) address;
- and
- when a destination MAC address of the received Ethernet frame is associated with the virtual routing instance, applying a routing data flow treatment, the routing data flow treatment comprising:
- identifying a layer 2 network area associated with an IP destination address of the IP packet;
- and
- forwarding the IP packet to the identified layer 2 network area in an Ethernet frame having an I-SID value associated with the identified layer 2 network area.
A network element for forwarding an IP packet over IEEE 802.1aq Provider Ethernet network areas to destination addresses, the network element comprising:
- a virtual routing instance communicatively coupling at least two layer 2 network areas, each layer 2 network area being associated with a respective I-SID value, and the network element being configured to receive, from a source layer 2 network area, an Ethernet frame having an IP packet encapsulated therein, the IP packet comprising an IP destination address, the Ethernet frame comprising a service instance identifier (I-SID) value and at least one destination media access control (MAC) address associated with the virtual routing instance;
- and
- when a destination MAC address of the received Ethernet frame is associated with the virtual routing instance:
- performing at least one routing data flow treatment on the encapsulated IP packet, the at least one routing data flow treatment comprising identifying a layer 2 network area associated with the IP destination address of the IP packet and forwarding the IP packet to the identified layer 2 network area in an Ethernet frame having an I-SID value associated with the identified layer 2 network area.
The network element of 6, wherein identifying a layer 2 network associated with the IP destination address comprises acquiring information at least in part through at least one routing protocol.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.