Patent ID: 6693878
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of routing packets from a first network node to a second network node in a data network, the data network including an access network having at least one Head End device and a plurality of nodes, the access network further including at least one shared access channel utilized by the first and second nodes to communicate with the Head End device, said first and second nodes being members of a first Virtual Private Network (VPN), said first VPN being associated with at least one first VPN customer edge device, said method comprising:assigning an ID to the first node that is associated with at least one VPN, wherein the ID is assigned by an entity other than the first node; receiving a packet from the first node, said packet including the ID associated with said first node, and including routing information for routing said packet to a destination address associated with said second node; examining the packet to identify the ID of the first node; and using said first node ID to determine whether said first node is associated with at least one VPN.