Piggybacking VPN information in BGP for network based VPN architectures
DC
First Claim
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1. A Border Gateway Protocol Speaker (BGP Speaker) in a communication system which implements at least one network based Virtual Private Network (NB-VPN) across a backbone, the at least one NB-VPN using an Open System Interconnect (OSI) layer-2 protocol and an OSI layer-3 protocol, one or more of the at least one NB-VPN using an OSI layer-2 protocol different from an OSI layer-2 protocol used by the backbone or using an OSI layer-3 protocol different from an OSI layer-3 protocol used by the backbone, the BGP Speaker operable to:
- transmit an Update message being in conformance with a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the Update message further including;
Virtual Private Network (VPN) Membership information that indicates an identification of at least one VPN to which the Update message relates;
a VPN Reachability Mode field that indicates a type of VPN model being used by the at least one VPN;
VPN Reachability information that indicates at least one route by which the at least one VPN can be reached; and
Tunnel Mechanism information that indicates characteristics of a tunnel used to transport VPN packets across the backbone.
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Abstract
A common BGP framework is provided to achieve VPN information discovery in network based VPNs using modifications to existing BGP-4 multiprotocol extension path attributes. The framework allow each VPN to implement different OSI layer-2 or layer-3 protocols, and to implement different OSI layer-2 or layer-3 protocols from those used by the backbone of the shared network. The extensions added to BGP-4 apply both to Virtual Router (VR) models of VPN systems and to non-VR models.
58 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A Border Gateway Protocol Speaker (BGP Speaker) in a communication system which implements at least one network based Virtual Private Network (NB-VPN) across a backbone, the at least one NB-VPN using an Open System Interconnect (OSI) layer-2 protocol and an OSI layer-3 protocol, one or more of the at least one NB-VPN using an OSI layer-2 protocol different from an OSI layer-2 protocol used by the backbone or using an OSI layer-3 protocol different from an OSI layer-3 protocol used by the backbone, the BGP Speaker operable to:
transmit an Update message being in conformance with a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the Update message further including; Virtual Private Network (VPN) Membership information that indicates an identification of at least one VPN to which the Update message relates; a VPN Reachability Mode field that indicates a type of VPN model being used by the at least one VPN; VPN Reachability information that indicates at least one route by which the at least one VPN can be reached; and Tunnel Mechanism information that indicates characteristics of a tunnel used to transport VPN packets across the backbone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 22)
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10. In a communication system which implements at least one network based Virtual Private Network (NB-VPN) across a backbone, the at least one NB-VPN using an Open System Interconnect (OSI) layer-2 protocol and an OSI layer-3 protocol, one or more of the at least one NB-VPN using an OSI layer-2 protocol different from an OSI layer-2 protocol used by the backbone or using an OSI layer-3 protocol different from an OSI layer-3 protocol used by the backbone, a method for transmitting an Update message embodied in a transmission medium and comprising a data format, the method comprising:
transmitting the data format in conformance with a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), wherein transmitting the data format further comprises transmitting; Virtual Private Network (VPN) Membership information that indicates the identification of at least one VPN to which the Update message relates; a VPN Reachability Mode field that indicates a type of VPN model being used by the at least one VPN; VPN Reachability information that indicates at least one route by which the at least one VPN can be reached; and Tunnel Mechanism information that indicates characteristics of a tunnel used to transport VPN packets across the backbone. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A Virtual Router (VR) in a communication system which implements at least one network based Virtual Private Network (NB-VPN) across a backbone, the at least one NB-VPN using an Open System Interconnect (OSI) layer-2 protocol and an OSI layer-3 protocol, one or more of the at least one NB-VPN using an OSI layer-2 protocol different from an OSI layer-2 protocol used by the backbone or using an OSI layer-3 protocol different from an OSI layer-3 protocol used by the backbone, the VR operable to:
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receive an Update message being in conformance with a Border Gateway Protocol (BGP), the Update message further including information relating to a NB-VPN to which the VR belongs and information relating to networking systems used by the NB-VPN to which the VR belongs; and the VR including instructions for establishing an OSI layer-2 connection to at least one other VR in the communication system based at least in part on information in the Update message; wherein the Update message comprises; Virtual Private Network (VPN) Membership information that indicates an identification of at least one VPN to which the Update message relates; a VPN Reachability Mode field that indicates a type of VPN model being used by the at least one VPN; VPN Reachability information that indicates at least one route by which the at least one VPN can be reached; and Tunnel Mechanism information that indicates characteristics of a tunnel used to transport VPN packets across the backbone. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification
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Litigation Data
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Current AssigneeInternational License Exchange of America, LLC (Equitable IP Corporation)
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Original AssigneeNortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
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InventorsOuld-Brahim, Hamid, Wright, Gregory V., Gleeson, Bryan
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Primary Examiner(s)Sheikh, Ayaz
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Assistant Examiner(s)Abrishamkar, Kaveh
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Application NumberUS09/902,683Time in Patent Office2,266 DaysField of Search713/182, 713/200, 370/7, 370/351, 370/501, 370/409, 370/379.1, 370/257, 370/255, 709/238US Class Current370/409CPC Class CodesH04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. v...H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
