IP Library Granted Patent US 10,630,508
Granted Patent B2
US 10,630,508 · App. 16/176,792 · Granted Apr 21, 2020

Dynamic customer VLAN identifiers in a telecommunications network

Inventors: Jin-Gen Wang (Lafayette, CO); Michael L. Nyhus (Denver, CO); Austin D. Ritchie (Parker, CO)
Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
H04L12/4645H04L12/462H04L12/4633H04L45/64
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,630,508
App. No.
16/176,792
Granted
Apr 21, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for transmitting data over networks includes associating Customer Edge Virtual Local Area Network (CE-VLAN) identifiers with an Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC). Each of the CE-VLAN identifiers is assigned to a respective Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) of a cloud computing environment and the EVC extends between a first network and the cloud computing environment through a second network. The EVC is also configured to transmit packets including any of the CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment. The method further includes transmitting a packet received from the first network and including one of the CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment using the EVC.

Claims (16)

1. A method for transmitting one or more packets over networks, the method comprising:

associating a plurality of Customer Edge Virtual Local Area Network (CE-VLAN) identifiers with an Ethernet Virtual Connection (EVC), wherein:

each of the plurality of CE-VLAN identifiers identify a Customer Edge device;

each of the plurality of CE-VLAN identifiers is assigned to a respective Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) of a cloud computing environment; and

the EVC extends between a first network and the cloud computing environment through a second network and is configured to transmit packets including any of the plurality of CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment; and

including a Service Provider Virtual Local Area Network (SP-VLAN) identifier, wherein the SP-VLAN identifier is used for routing a packet of the one or more packets through the second network; and

transmitting the packet received from the first network and including a CE-VLAN identifier of the plurality of CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment using the EVC.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the packet from the first network at an ingress device of the second network; and

inserting, at the ingress device, the SP-VLAN identifier into the packet,

wherein the packet is routed through the second network based, at least in part, on the SP-VLAN identifier.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprising removing the SP-VLAN identifier from the packet at an egress device of the second network.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the packet is a first packet and the CE-VLAN identifier is a first CE-VLAN identifier of the plurality of CE-VLAN identifiers, the method further comprising transmitting a second packet received from the first network and including a second CE-VLAN identifier of the plurality of CE-VLAN identifiers to the cloud computing environment using the EVC, the second CE-VLAN identifier being different than the first CE-VLAN identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein associating the plurality of CE-VLAN identifiers with the EVC includes receiving a reconfiguration command, the reconfiguration command including a new CE-VLAN identifier to be associated with the EVC.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising reconfiguring an ingress device of the second network to identify packets including the new CE-VLAN identifier and to insert the SP-VLAN identifier into identified packets, the SP-VLAN identifier selected to facilitate routing through the second network along the EVC.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein identifying packets including the new CE-VLAN identifier further comprises determining a preservation flag of the packet has been set by a device of the first network.

Assignments (3)
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0749 →
NOTICE OF GRANT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY (FIRST LIEN) Recorded Nov 4, 2024
From: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC; GLOBAL CROSSING TELECOMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069295/0858 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2020
From: WANG, JIN-GEN; RITCHIE, AUSTIN D.; NYHUS, MICHAEL
To: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 051613/0586 →
Cited By (1)
US 12,401,598