IP Library Granted Patent US 12,192,055
Granted Patent B2
US 12,192,055 · App. 18/403,968 · Granted Jan 7, 2025

Software defined networking portal for custom-defined network routing

Inventor: Eric Osborne (Sutton, MA)
Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
H04L41/0893H04L41/18H04L45/02H04L45/64H04L67/02
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,192,055
App. No.
18/403,968
Granted
Jan 7, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Implementations described and claimed herein provide systems and methods for custom-defined network routing. In one implementation, a set of custom defined network flow rules is received at an edge router of a primary network, which is in communication with a customer network. The set of custom defined network flow rules correspond to network traffic associated with the customer network. The set of custom defined network flow rules is stored in a forwarding table on the edge router. A packet of data is received at the edge router. The packet of data is attributed to the customer network. The set of custom defined network flow rules is applied to the pack of data using the forwarding table.

Claims (14)

1. A method for custom-defined network routing, the method comprising:

receiving, at a primary network, authentication information;

identifying, based on the authentication information, a customer network, the customer network distinct from, and in communication with, the primary network;

receiving a set of custom defined network flow rules at an edge router of the primary network, the set of custom defined network flow rules specific to network traffic transceived with the customer network, wherein at least a first rule of the set of custom defined network flow rules defines a priority for application of the first rule in case the first rule conflicts with another rule of the custom defined set of rules to the network traffic;

storing the set of custom defined network flow rules in a forwarding table specific to the customer network on the edge router;

receiving a packet of data at the edge router;

attributing the packet of data to the customer network; and

applying the set of custom defined network flow rules to the packet of data using the forwarding table,

wherein each of the custom defined set of rules defines a duration for application of the custom defined set of rules to the network traffic at the at least one edge router.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of custom defined network flow rules is distributed to the edge network by a controller of the primary network.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the packet of data includes a header and the packet of data is attributed to the customer network using the header.

4. The method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the packet of data is attributed to the customer network using at least one of: a source address or a destination address specified in the header.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the set of custom defined network flow rules includes one or more of: drop, demarc, rate limit, queue selection, and path selection.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 , wherein each of the set of custom defined network flow rules defines for application to the network traffic.

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 5, 2024
From: OSBORNE, ERIC
To: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 066036/0166 →
Continuity (6)
Continuation 17951600 · Sep 23, 2022
Continuation 17082115 · Oct 28, 2020
Continuation 16371923 · Apr 1, 2019
Continuation 14830189 · Aug 19, 2015
Provisional Application 62040856 · Aug 22, 2014
Related Publication 20240146609A1 · May 2, 2024
References Cited (33)
US 8239572B1 · Brandwine et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8693344B1 · Adams · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 8799451B2 · Raleigh · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 10250442B2 · Osborne · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 10826774B2 · Osborne · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 11456922B2 · Osborne · 2022 [cited by applicant]
US 20070121486A1 · Guichard et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20070168475A1 · Mullahy et al. · 2007 [cited by applicant]
US 20080219268A1 · Dennison · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20100054241A1 · Shah · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20100284403A1 · Scudder · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 20130120209A1 · Padmanabhan et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130250770A1 · Zou et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20130287026A1 · Davie · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 20140079070A1 · Sonoda · 2014 [cited by examiner]
US 20140195666A1 · Dumitriu et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150064677A1 · Baphna · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20150111528A1 · Raleigh · 2015 [cited by examiner]
US 20150382197A1 · Ren · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160057015A1 · Osborne · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 20170295103A1 · Starsinic · 2017 [cited by examiner]
US 20200195509A1 · Singh · 2020 [cited by applicant]
US 20210044483A1 · Osborne · 2021 [cited by applicant]
US 20230016270A1 · Osborne · 2023 [cited by applicant]
US 20230328805A1 · Pancorbo Marcos · 2023 [cited by examiner]
US 20230412457A1 · Wang · 2023 [cited by examiner]
European Examination Report, dated Dec. 10, 2018, Application No. 15833493.8, filed Aug. 19, 2015; 6 pgs. [cited by applicant]
European Examination Report, dated Feb. 24, 2020, Application No. 15833493.8, filed Aug. 19, 2015; 4 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Extended European Search Report, dated Mar. 8, 2018, Application No. 15833493.8, filed Aug. 19, 2015; 10 pgs. [cited by applicant]
International Preliminary Report on Patentability, dated Feb. 28, 2017, Int'l Appl. No. PCT/US15/045871, Int'l Filing Date Aug. 19, 2015; 8 pgs. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report dated Nov. 3, 2015, Int'l Appl. No. PCT/US15/45871, Int'l Filing Date Aug. 19, 2015; 3 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Written Opinion of the International Searching Authority dated Nov. 3, 2015, Int'l Appl. No. PCT/US15/45871, Int'l Filing Date Aug. 19, 2015; 6 pgs. [cited by applicant]
Bernardos, Carlos J. et al., “An Architecture for Software Defined Wireless Networking”, [cited by applicant]