Patent ID: 7889738
Filing Date: 2011-02-15
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of implementing a virtualized service simultaneously to multiple independent virtual private networks (VPNs) with potentially overlapping network addresses, comprising: providing an underlying packet network comprising a plurality of linked physical network entities; establishing said VPNs between specific network entities forming a subset of said linked network entities; providing a plurality of network devices connected to said network and offering subscriber services, wherein individual said network devices have globally unique addresses and send traffic to and accept traffic from subscribers attached to specific said network entities on more than one said VPN; propagating said globally unique addresses into said VPNs; providing multiple interfaces for said individual network devices, wherein each said interface of a particular network device establishes a connection to a particular said VPN connected to that network device; maintaining logically separate routing tables at each network device corresponding to each VPN connected to that network device; and routing traffic between said network devices and said VPNs using the routing table in the particular network device associated with the particularly VPN through which the traffic is being routed; whereby a logical instance of the virtualized service is provided to each VPN while maintaining integrity of the separate VPNs.