Patent ID: 6934765

Claim:
A method for determining a virtual address that is uniquely assigned to a subscriber-side terminal unit connected to a virtual network via a subscriber-side network termination unit of a subscriber line of the virtual network and to a terminal connection downstream of the network termination unit, comprising: sending an address request message from the network termination unit with a unique first identifier of the network termination unit to a network management unit to assign virtual addresses in order to request a virtual address of the network termination unit; assigning the virtual address of the network termination unit using the first identifier by the network management unit; sending the virtual address of the network termination unit and a unique second identifier of the downstream terminal connection from the network management unit in order to assign virtual addresses to the network termination unit; sending an address request message with the unique second identifier of the downstream terminal connection from the network termination unit to the network management unit in order to assign virtual addresses; assigning the virtual address of the downstream terminal connection using the identifier by the network management unit, sending the virtual address of the downstream terminal connection from the network management unit in order to assign virtual addresses to the network termination unit; and transmitting the virtual address of the downstream terminal connection as the virtual address for the terminal unit to the terminal unit.