Patent ID: 7870604
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a first provider node of a physical network supporting multiple virtual networks, a method for propagating network data, the method comprising: receiving network data associated with a first virtual network to be supported by the physical network; generating, at the first provider node, a first signature value uniquely associated with an identity of the first virtual network, wherein generating the first signature value includes retrieving a data value, obtaining an encryption key associated with the first virtual network, and applying a function to the data value based on a value of the encryption key to produce the first signature value associated with the identity of the first virtual network; and transmitting both the network data associated with the first virtual network and the first signature value to a second provider node in the physical network, the first signature value enabling the second provider node to verify that the network data is properly associated with the first virtual network via generation of a second signature value by the second provider node using a routing key of a customer node and determination of whether the first signature value matches the second signature value by the second provider node, the first virtual network being one of multiple virtual networks supported by the second provider node.