Patent ID: 9722923
Date: 2017-08-01
CPC Classifications: H04L

Claim:
1. A method of operating in a fixed access network, the method comprising: providing, in the fixed access network, a virtual node for a respective third party of a plurality of third parties, the virtual node used for bearing and operating a function defined by the respective third party; allocating an address to the virtual node such that the virtual node is identified by the address; informing a user equipment (UE) of the address; and providing a communication connection between the UE and the virtual node according to the address; receiving an identification of one or more third parties to which access is requested by the UE; receiving current physical access position information of the UE, the current physical access position information inserted by an access node that is accessed by the UE; searching for the address of the virtual node corresponding to the respective third party of the plurality of third parties based on (i) the identification of the one or more third parties to which the UE requests access, and (ii) the current physical access position information of the UE; and transmitting, to the UE, the address of the virtual node corresponding to the respective third party, wherein the address is a media access control address, the media access control address is specific to the virtual node, the fixed access network is a physical access network, the respective third party is at least one of a virtual access network and a service provision network, and the respective third party is independent of the physical access network.