Patent ID: 9088669
Filing Date: 2015-07-21
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
1. A processor-implemented method of operation for a user-facing provider edge (u-PE) device of an Ethernet access network, the method comprising: receiving a customer frame from a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM) device, the customer frame being of a first format that includes a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag, the first VLAN tag including a VLAN identifier portion having a first predetermined bit length identifying a Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) subscriber; and re-formatting the customer frame into a second format, wherein the first VLAN identifier portion is mapped to a second VLAN identifier portion of a second VLAN tag, the second VLAN identifier portion having a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length, the second VLAN tag identifying a service instance of the Ethernet access network, in the second format the customer frame being encapsulated inside a provider frame, wherein a provider source Media Access Control (MAC) address represents a MAC address associated with the DSLAM, and a provider destination MAC address represents a MAC address of a destination device.