Patent ID: 7751399
Filing Date: 2010-07-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, at a local provider edge node in a provider network, a data link layer packet from a first customer edge node of a plurality of customer edge nodes connected to the local provider edge node; generating a tunnel data packet for a particular tunneling protocol, wherein the tunnel data packet includes tunnel data that indicates tunnel termination at a different provider edge node in the provider network, customer identifier data that uniquely indicates a customer associated with the first customer edge node, and the data link layer packet; sending the tunnel data packet over the provider network; receiving at the local provider edge node an incoming tunnel data packet that includes incoming tunnel data that indicates a tunnel with a sending provider edge node different from the local provider edge node, incoming customer data that uniquely identifies a sending customer, and an incoming data link layer data packet determining a second customer edge node of the plurality of customer edge nodes based on the incoming customer data and sending the incoming data link layer data packet to the second customer edge node.