IP Library Granted Patent US 12,689,610
Granted Patent B2
US 12,689,610 · App. 18/786,460 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

End-to-end network security service for workloads across different network environments

Inventors: Peter Brecl (Highlands Ranch, CO); Steven Casey (Littleton, CO); Kevin M. McBride (Denver, CO)
Assignee: Level 3 Communications, LLC
H04L63/0209H04L12/4633H04L41/145H04L43/0876H04L45/74H04L61/4511H04L63/1416H04L67/10H04L61/5007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,689,610
App. No.
18/786,460
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

Implementations include providing security services to workloads deployed across various types of network environments, such as public networks, private networks, hybrid networks, customer premise network environments, and the like, by redirecting traffic intended for the service device through a security environment of the first network. After application of the security features to the incoming traffic, the “clean” traffic may be transmitted to the service device instantiated on the separate network via a tunnel. Redirection of incoming traffic to the security-providing first network may include correlating a network address of the service device to a reserved network address of a block of reserved addresses and updating a Domain Name Server (DNS) or other address resolving system with the reserved address. The return transmission tunnel may be established between the security environment and the network address of the service device.

Claims (15)

1 . A system for operating a network, the system comprising:

a processing device; and

a non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions, which when executed by the processing device, cause the processing device to:

generate, based on a service parameter, a performance threshold value for providing a security service for network traffic corresponding to a destination workload;

simulate, on a model of a network configuration, providing the security services for the network traffic;

select, based on a comparison of an output of the simulation to a performance threshold value, a network environment from a plurality of available network environments; and

instantiating, in the selected network environment, the destination workload.

2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the instructions further cause the processing device to:

monitor a network performance value for providing the security services to the network traffic over a period of time; and

modify the model of the network configuration based on the monitored network performance value.

3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the instructions further cause the processing device to:

migrate, based on the selection of the network environment, a secure communication tunnel to connect to the destination workload.

4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the network environment comprises at least one of a public cloud environment, a private cloud environment, or a compute environment of the network.

5 . The system of claim 4 wherein the network performance values comprise one of a maximum transmission speed, an expected packet loss, or an available bandwidth.

6 . The system of claim 5 wherein the performance threshold is based on a service level agreement.

Assignments (6)
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 Jul 30, 2024
From: BRECL, PETER; CASEY, STEVEN
To: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068126/0020 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2024
From: CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC
To: LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 068126/0813 →
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 30, 2024
From: MCBRIDE, KEVIN
To: EMBARQ HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
Reel/Frame 068202/0508 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 30, 2024
From: EMBARQ HOLDINGS COMPANY, LLC
To: CENTURYLINK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LLC
Reel/Frame 068223/0400 →
Continuity (4)
Division 17524982 · Nov 12, 2021
Provisional Application 63137464 · Jan 14, 2021
Provisional Application 63113647 · Nov 13, 2020
Related Publication 20240388567A1 · Nov 21, 2024
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