Patent ID: 9001829
Filing Date: 2015-04-07
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of forwarding an internet protocol (IP) packet at a network element comprising, a virtual routing instance communicatively coupling at least two layer 2 network areas, each layer 2 network area being associated with a respective I-SID value, the method comprising: receiving, from a source layer 2 network area, an Ethernet frame having an IP packet encapsulated therein, the Ethernet frame comprising a service instance identifier (I-SID) value and at least one destination media access control (MAC) address; and when a destination MAC address of the received Ethernet frame is associated with the virtual routing instance, applying a routing data flow treatment, the routing data flow treatment comprising: identifying a layer 2 network area associated with an IP destination address of the IP packet; and forwarding the IP packet to the identified layer 2 network area in an Ethernet frame having an I-SID value associated with the identified layer 2 network area.