Patent ID: 7983258
Filing Date: 2011-07-19
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving with a network device a plurality of Internet Protocol (IP) packets on a layer two (L2) interface of the network device, wherein the plurality of IP packets are received from a subscriber device; in response to receiving the plurality of IP packets, dynamically building within the network device a VLAN Ethernet interface for the subscriber device; after dynamically building the VLAN Ethernet interface, dynamically building within the network device an IP interface column over the dynamic VLAN Ethernet interface for processing the plurality of IP packets; after dynamically building the IP interface column, authenticating a user associated with the plurality of IP packets based on login information associated with the IP packets; and automatically tearing down the IP interface column when the user logs out of the network device while persistently maintaining the VLAN Ethernet interface over the L2 interface for the subscriber device.