Patent ID: 8498295
Filing Date: 2013-07-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, with a network device, a packet having header information via a tunnel of a plurality of tunnels over a first network, wherein two or more tunnels of the plurality of tunnels are associated with different subscribers, wherein the packet conforms to a first network-layer protocol, and wherein the network device is connected to the first network operating in accordance with the first network-layer protocol and a second network operating in accordance with a second network-layer protocol; accessing, with a forwarding element of the network device, a forwarding structure to select a logical interface to which to forward the packet based on the header information, wherein the logical interface is associated with a service element of the network device, and wherein the logical interface is associated with each of the two or more tunnels associated with the different subscribers; directing the packet to the service element with the forwarding element of the network device via the logical interface; determining, with the service element, if an entry exists within a data repository of the network device that includes information about the tunnel based on at least the header information of the packet; in response to determining that the entry does not exist, creating, with the service element, the entry in the data repository to store information associated with the tunnel in order to establish the tunnel without signaling of the tunnel as a tunnel egress device; transforming, with the service element, the packet from a format conforming with the first network-layer protocol to a format conforming with the second network-layer protocol based on the entry; directing the packet from the service element to the forwarding element; and forwarding the packet via the second network with the forwarding element.