Patent ID: 8705549
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A universal Virtual Private Network (VPN) apparatus, comprising: a first Internet Protocol (IP) switch, said first IP switch connected to a second IP switch, each IP switch independently comprising multiple ports comprising a plurality of access ports and an interswitch port, wherein each access port of each IP switch is identified by a port identifier and directly connected to a corresponding host; wherein the interswitch port of the first IP switch is connected to the interswitch port of the second IP switch via a communication path in a public telecommunications medium; wherein the first IP switch is configured to receive a first virtual private line services (VPLS) packet from a first source host at a first access port of the first IP switch to which the first source host is directly connected and to transmit the first VPLS packet to a first destination host directly connected to a second access port of the first IP switch via a first transmission path using a VPLS transmission protocol throughout the first transmission path, said first source host and said first destination host both being registered members of a first universal VPN, said first VPLS packet comprising a first IP frame comprising a first packet payload having a first message therein; wherein the first IP switch is configured receive a second VPLS packet from a second source host at a third access port of the first IP switch to which the second source host is directly connected and to transmit the second VPLS packet to the second IP switch via a second transmission path using the VPLS transmission protocol throughout the second transmission path to enable the second IP switch to subsequently transmit the second VPLS packet to a second destination host connected to a fourth access port of the second IP switch via a third transmission path using the VPLS transmission protocol throughout the third transmission path, said second transmission path including the public communication path, said second source host and said second destination host both being registered members of a same universal VPN, said second VPLS packet comprising a second IP frame comprising a second packet payload having a second message therein; wherein each IP switch further comprises a switching table comprising a plurality of entries, each entry comprising an IP address with an associated IP route, each entry further comprising an IP port identifier associated with the IP address and identifying a port of the multiple ports; wherein the IP switch comprises means for dynamically populating and updating the switching table in a dynamic learning procedure for entries pertaining to incoming IP frames at the access ports; and wherein the switching table cannot be dynamically populated and updated in a dynamic learning process for entries pertaining to the interswitch port.