Patent ID: 11082255

Abstract:
A method and apparatus for transporting packets over a wide area network (WAN) in a communications network are provided where the WAN comprises a plurality of interconnected nodes including at least a first communication node, a second communication node and a WAN controller node. The method comprises establishing virtual private network (VPN) tunnel connections on communication links between some or all of the communication nodes comprising the WAN, using a non-stream-oriented transport layer protocol to establish a non-stream-oriented association for each VPN tunnel connection, and, on receiving a packet connection from a source device at said first communication node, encapsulating packets from said packet connection into one or more non-stream-oriented associations between the first communication node and the second communication node to thereby transport said packets from the source device to the second communication node. The WAN controller node communicates to the first communication node a selection of links or routes for packet transport to the second communication node. The first communication node selects the one or more non-stream-oriented associations for encapsulating packets into from a plurality of non-stream-oriented associations established on the links or routes communicated to said first node by the WAN controller node.