Patent ID: 9451053
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A computer-implemented method for interfacing software-defined networks with non-software-defined networks, at least a portion of the method being performed by a computing device comprising at least one processor, the method comprising: creating, at a switching device, a logical tunnel that interfaces a software-defined network with a non-software-defined network by connecting a Layer 2 interface of the switching device within the software-defined network to a Circuit Cross-Connect (CCC) interface of the switching device within the non-software-defined network, the logical tunnel being defined such that: receiving, at the switching device, at least one packet via the software-defined network; searching the set of flow entries that collectively direct network traffic within the software-defined network for a flow entry that corresponds to the packet; determining, based at least in part on the search, that the packet is destined for the non-software-defined network; and forwarding the packet to the non-software-defined network via the logical tunnel that interfaces the software-defined network with the non-software-defined network by directing the packet to the Layer 2 interface within the software-defined network such that the packet egresses out of the CCC interface within the non-software-defined network.