Patent ID: 8098649
Filing Date: 2012-01-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for transporting data through a network including: associating a transport tunnel with a service distribution point configured to transport data to a destination provider edge router associated with the network, wherein the service distribution point comprises one or more transport tunnels based on one or more transport protocol; mapping a service to the service distribution point but not directly to the transport tunnel; using the transport tunnel to transport data associated with the service to the destination provider edge router; and wherein the service is mapped to the service distribution point selected from a plurality of service distribution points associated within a single router by a service distribution point mapping module configured to map each of one or more services to a corresponding one or more service distribution points, where each of the plurality of service distribution points comprises a distribution point for a single destination router; and wherein the service distribution point is configured to monitor an operation state of the transport tunnel and automatically route traffic associate with the service to an alternate transport tunnel if the transport tunnel is non-operational.