Patent ID: 7856017
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A broadband access network, comprising: first and second access nodes connected to a plurality of end users; an edge node for receiving data packets transmitted by the first and second access nodes and for rerouting each data packet to another access node or to a destination external to the access network; wherein all packets transmitted from end users connected to the access network specify a destination media access control (MAC) address representing the edge node, and wherein all packets received by end users connected to the access network specify a source MAC address representing the edge node; wherein the edge node includes: wherein the first access node includes means for utilizing the address conversion information to modify the address information of packets identified as traffic between the first and second end users such that the destination MAC address is changed from that representing the edge node to that representing the destination end user, and to route the packet to the second access node; wherein the second access node includes means for utilizing the address conversion information to modify the address information of packets identified as traffic between the first and second end users such that the source MAC address is changed from that representing the source end user to that representing the edge node; and wherein the first and second access nodes redirect the identified packets to the destination end user without passing through the edge node and without revealing the MAC addresses of the first and second end users to each other.