Large-scale layer 2 metropolitan area network

Details Large-scale layer 2 metropolitan area network Large-scale layer 2 metropolitan area network

2007-11-06

2007-11-06

Nguyen, Brian (Department: 2616)

Multiplex communications

Pathfinding or routing

Switching a message which includes an address header

C370S256000

Reexamination Certificate

active

10279360

ABSTRACT:
A system and method permits the creation of very-large metropolitan area networks (MANs) using Layer 2 (L2) switching technology. Different groups of L2 switches are logically organized into Islands. Connected to each Island are a plurality of customers sites, and an interconnect fabric couples the Islands together. The Islands cooperate to provide a Virtual Ethernet Connection (VEC) to each set of customer sites being coupled together. Customers identify their traffic that corresponds to a VEC by labeling or tagging it with a Customer-Equipment VLAN Identifier (CE-VLAN ID). Within each Island, the CE-VLAN ID specified by the customer's traffic (and hence the corresponding VEC) is mapped to a unique MAN Provider-Equipment VLAN ID (PE-VLAN ID). To prevent the formation of loops, the Islands run the Inter-MAN Control Protocol (IMCP), which represents a modified version of the Multiple Spanning Tree Protocol (MSTP).

REFERENCES:
patent: 5959968 (1999-09-01), Chin et al.
patent: 5959989 (1999-09-01), Gleeson et al.
patent: 6163543 (2000-12-01), Chin et al.
patent: 6188694 (2001-02-01), Fine et al.
patent: 6236659 (2001-05-01), Pascoe
patent: 6298061 (2001-10-01), Chin et al.
patent: 6446131 (2002-09-01), Khansari et al.
patent: 6560236 (2003-05-01), Varghese et al.
patent: 7061876 (2006-06-01), Ambe
patent: 7127523 (2006-10-01), Kotser
U.S. Appl. No. 09/575,774, Thomas Edsall, et al.
Lasserre et al., Transparent VLAN Services over MPLS, IETF Internet Draft, Aug. 2001, pp. 1-11.
Finn, N., Bridge-Based Ethernet Services Provision, IEEE 802.1, Oct. 5, 2002, pp. 1-59.
Finn, N., Bridge-Based Ethernet Service Provision, IEEE 802.1, Oct. 12, 2002, pp. 1-57.
Ethernet over MPLS for the Cisco 7600 Series Internet Routers, Cisco Systems, Inc., Jun. 5, 2002, pp. 1-27.
MPLS Traffic Engineering Fast Reroute-Link Protection, Cisco Systems, Inc. Aug. 2, 2001, pp. 1-24.
Securing Networks with Private VLANs and VLAN access Control Lists, http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/473/90.shtml, pp. 1-22.
Understanding and Configuring Private VLANs, Cisco Systems, Inc., Sep. 12, 2002, pp. 1-13.
Cisco Metro Solutions Portfolio, Cisco Sytems, Inc., (c) 1992-2001, pp. 1-13.
Tolley, B., Strategic Directions Moving the Decimal Point: An Introduction to 10 Gigabit Etherenet, Cisco Sytems, Inc., (c) 2000, pp. 1-17.
Dynamic Packet Transport Technology and Applications Overview, Cisco Sytems, Inc., (c) 1999, pp. 1-17.
Dynamic Packet Transport Technology and Performance, Cisco Systems, Inc., (c) 2000, pp. 1-13.
Lasserre, M., MPLS based Transparent LAN services, River Stone Networks, Inc., (c) 2001-2002, pp. 1-10.
Martini, et al., Transport of Layer 2 Frames Over MPLS, IETF Internet Draft, Apr. 2002, pp. 1-16.
Martini, et al., Encapsulation Methods for Transport of Layer 2 Frames Over IP and MPLS Networks, IETF Internet Draft, Nov. 1, 2001, pp. 1-14.
Configuring Spanning Tree, Cisco Sytems, Inc., Dec. 10, 2001, pp. 1-60.
Multiprotocol Encapsulation over ATM Adaptation Layer 5, Network Working Group Request for Comments: 2684, Sep. 1999, pp. 1-22.
“P802.1s Drsft Standard for Local and Metropolitan Area Networks-Amendment 3 to 802.1q Virtual Bridged Local Area Networks: Multiple Spanning Trees,” Internetworking Task Group, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.1, IEEE, Inc., New York, NY, (c) 2002, pp. 1-222.
Notification of Transmittal of International Preliminary Report on Patentability, mailed Dec. 1, 2006, Cisco Technology, Inc., PCT/US03/33215, International Filing Date: Oct. 21, 2003, 6 pgs.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Large-scale layer 2 metropolitan area network does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Large-scale layer 2 metropolitan area network, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Large-scale layer 2 metropolitan area network will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3851405