Apparatus and methods for establishing virtual private networks in a broadband network
View Patent ↗Service providers can reduce multiple overlay networks by creating multiple logical service networks (LSNs) on the same physical or optical fiber network. The LSNs are established by the service provider and can be characterized by traffic type, bandwidth, delay, hop count, guaranteed information rates and/or restoration priorities. Once established, the LSNs allow the service provider to deliver a variety of services to customers depending on customer's traffic specifications. Different traffic specifications are serviced on different LSNs, depending on each LSN's characteristics. Such LSNs, once built within a broadband network, can be customized and sold to multiple customers.
1. A method for establishing virtual private networks in a communication network, comprising:
creating a plurality of label switched paths between corresponding locations of service that are not directly linked, each of the label switched paths providing a class of services;
assigning a label to each of the label switched paths, each label identifying a class of services for a corresponding label switched path; and
configuring a set of logical service networks via multiprotocol labels to carry multiple virtual private network paths using the label switched paths.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: creating one or more label switched paths for a particular location of service such that the particular location of service has one or more virtual paths to other locations of service.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein each virtual path includes one or more physical trunks.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein each label switched path is created by a physical trunk between corresponding locations of service.
5. A virtual private network, comprising:
a plurality of label switched paths between corresponding locations of service that are not directly linked, each of the label switched paths providing a class of services;
a label identifying a class of services for each of the label switched paths; and
a set of logical service networks configured via multiprotocol labels to carry multiple virtual private network paths via the label switched paths.
6. The virtual private network of claim 5 , wherein a particular location of service has one or more label switched paths establishing virtual paths to other locations of service.
7. The virtual private network of claim 6 , wherein each virtual path includes one or more physical trunks.
8. The virtual private network of claim 5 , wherein each label switched path is created by a physical trunk between corresponding locations of service.
9. A system for establishing virtual private networks in a communication network, comprising:
means for creating a plurality of label switched paths between corresponding locations of service that are not directly linked, each of the label switched paths providing a class of services;
means for assigning a label to each of the label switched paths, the label identifying a class of services for the label switched paths; and
means for configuring a set of logical service networks via multiprotocol labels to carry multiple virtual private network paths using the label switched paths.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein a particular location of service has one or more label switched paths establishing virtual paths to other locations of service.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein each virtual path includes one or more physical trunks.
12. The system of claim 9 , wherein each label switched path is created by a physical trunk between corresponding locations of service.
13. A non-transitory computer readable medium including code for establishing virtual private networks in a communication network, the code operable to:
create a plurality of label switched paths between corresponding locations of service that are not directly linked, each of the label switched paths providing a class of services;
assign a label to each of the label switched paths, the label identifying a class of services for the label switched path trunk links; and
configure a set of logical service networks via multiprotocol labels to carry multiple virtual private network paths using the label switched paths.
14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the code is operable to create one or more label switched paths for a particular location of service such that the particular location of service has one or more virtual paths to other locations of service.
15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 14 , wherein each virtual path includes one or more physical trunks.
16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the code is operable to create each label switched path through a physical trunk between corresponding locations of service.