Patent ID: 7366182
Filing Date: 2008-04-29
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A communications method for use in a communications system including first and second addressing domains, a first set of addresses corresponding to the first addressing domain, a second set of addresses corresponding to the second addressing domain, the first addressing domain including a first node, said first node including a plurality of interfaces, said second addressing domain including a second node, a virtual private network (VPN) coupling said first and second nodes, an upstream VPN interface identifier that identifies an interface at said first node through which packets to be communicated over said VPN are forwarded to the second node, the method comprising: operating the first node to receive from said second node address delegation information indicating at least one delegated address from said second set of addresses which said first node can assign; operating the first node, in response to receiving said address delegation information from the second node, to install a forwarding entry, said forwarding entry associating a first node downstream interface with the first node upstream interface identified by said upstream VPN interface identifier; and operating the first node to receive a first packet including a source address having the value of the delegated address and information associating the source address with the second node, said first node selecting as a function of said information associating the source address with the second node which one of a plurality of forwarding entries to use in determining an upstream VPN interface to be used to forward said received first packet.