Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Computer-to-computer session/connection establishing
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-24
2001-09-04
Meky, Moustafa M. (Department: 2153)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Computer-to-computer session/connection establishing
C709S238000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286049
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the provision of broadband content to a subscriber. More specifically, systems and methods for providing broadband content to high-speed access subscribers with layer
4
-
7
switching are disclosed.
2. Description of Related Art
An Internet user typically accesses the Internet by subscribing to an Internet Service Provider (“ISP”). The ISP accesses the Internet and transmits desired Internet content between the Internet user and the Internet content provider.
The Internet user may also subscribe to high speed access to provide connection between the subscriber or client and the ISP to which the client subscribes. One example of high-speed access is via a digital subscriber line (“DSL”). The DSL is generally provided by means of a connection-oriented packet network which provides connectivity among remote users or client premises and the Internet via ISPs. In a packet-based switching network, data to be transmitted is broken up into a number of packets and transmitted between client premise equipment (“CPE”), e.g., a modem, at the Internet user's site and the Internet content provider.
The connection-oriented packet network includes a DSL loop using a pair of twisted copper telephone lines extending between the CPE and a central office (“CO”) of a telephone company such as an incumbent local exchange carrier (“ILEC”). Both competitive local exchange carriers (“CLECs”) and ILECs can provide DSL service to clients. For purposes of discussion and clarity only, it is assumed that DSL service is provided by only one ILEC.
The connection-oriented packet network further includes an ATM or Frame Relay network comprising ATM or Frame Relay network switches. The network switches facilitate in establishing virtual circuits (“VC”) between each client and the ISP to which the corresponding client subscribes. The VC between each client and the ISP to which the corresponding client subscribes establishes connectivity between each client and the Internet via the respective ISP.
However, although a client may have high-speed connection to the ISP, intermediate connections or links between the ISP and the Internet and within the Internet may nonetheless be relatively slow, resulting in an overall slow connection. Thus, what is needed is a system and method for providing broadband content to high-speed access subscribers that is not limited or is less limited by such slow intermediate connections or links.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Systems and methods for providing broadband content to high-speed access subscribers with layer
4
-
7
switching are disclosed. It should be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented in numerous ways, including as a process, an apparatus, a system, a device, a method, or a computer readable medium such as a computer readable storage medium or a computer network wherein program instructions are sent over optical or electronic communication lines. Several inventive embodiments of the present invention are described below.
The method generally comprises routing client data packets from a client premise equipment (CPE) at a client premise to a broadband access gateway (BAG), the BAG being in communication with at least one Internet service provider (ISP) and an enhanced services complex (ESC) having at least one content server, selectively routing each client data packet from the BAG to one of the Internet via the ISP and the ESC, routing the client data packet to an Internet content in communication with the Internet where the client data packet is selectively routed to the Internet via the ISP, routing the client data packet to one of the content servers having Internet content stored therein where the client data packet is selectively routed to the content server via the ESC, routing content data packets from one of the Internet content and the content server to the CPE.
It is to be understood that although the term “switching” is typically used in conjunction with ATM cells while the term “routing” is typically used in conjunction with IP packets, these terms are used in a generic, interchangeable sense herein.
The routing of the client data packets from the CPE to the BAG may be via switches in a network and the network may be a wireless, DSL, and cable network, for example. The selectively routing of each client data packet from the BAG to the Internet or the ESC includes determining the routing of the client data packet based upon a destination address of the client data packet and upon a destination address filter and may be achieved by destination redirection of the client data packet where the client data packet is routed to the ESC and/or by translation of a destination address of the client data packet to a substitute destination address where the client data packet is routed to the ESC. The destination address translation preferably utilizes layer
4
switching and the substitute destination address is optionally the address of the content cached in the content server.
The BAG may be in communication with a plurality of ISPs, each client data packet being associated with one of the ISPs and each ISP corresponding to a router of the BAG. Preferably, the BAG routers are virtual routers. Thus the routing of the client data packet to the content server may include translating a client source address of the client data packet to a substitute client source address for facilitating routing of the content data packet from the ESC to the CPE via the BAG router corresponding to the ISP associated with the client data packet. The routing of the content data packets from the content server to the CPE includes translating the substitute client equipment address of the client data packet to the client equipment address to identify the ISP with which the client data packet is associated. Further, translating the substitute client equipment address of the client data packet to the client equipment address may be performed by layer
4
-
7
switches of the ESC.
The routing of each client data packet from the BAG to the Internet via the ISP may include providing a virtual circuit (VC) between each ISP and a corresponding one of at least one functionally divided virtual gateway of the BAG. In addition, the routing the client data packets from the CPE to the BAG may include providing a VC between each CPE and a corresponding one of the functionally divided virtual gateways of the BAG. Further, the selective routing of each client data packet from the BAG to the ESC may include providing connectivity between each of the functionally divided virtual gateways of the BAG and at least a portion of the content servers corresponding to the virtual gateway. The routing of the client data packet to the content server may be via routers and layer
4
-
7
switches of the ESC.
The network for providing broadband content to high speed subscribers generally comprises an ESC having at least one content server having Internet content cached therein and a BAG in communication with the ESC and to at least one ISP, the BAG is configured to transmit and receive data traffic to and from a CPE at a client premise, respectively. The BAG is configured to selectively route data traffic received from the CPE to one of the ESC content servers and the ISP based on multiple instances of the content destination address, i.e., there can be multiple copies of the content identified by an Internet address and that the instance of the Internet address nearest could be used to satisfy the request.
The network may also include a network of switches in communication with the BAG, the data traffic to and from the CPE being directed through the network of switches, such as ATM switches, where the network can be any type of network such as a wireless, DSL, or cable network. The network may further include a gateway-client VC extending between the BAG and the CPE via the network of switches, the client-gateway VC being configured to transmit data traffic between the BAG and the CPE. The ESC may include
Rajakarunanayake Yasantha N.
Wetzel Gregory F.
Covad Communications Group, Inc.
Kuo Jung-hua
Meky Moustafa M.
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