Patent ID: 8559441

Claim:
A virtual private network (VPN) apparatus included in a network with other VPN apparatuses for providing virtual private network services to interconnect a plurality of bases including first bases each of which is connected to the network via a single access line and a second base connected to the network via at least two access lines, the VPN apparatus comprising: a first virtual VPN apparatus that is connected to one of the first bases via the single access line of the one of the first bases and carries out a frame forwarding process by using a first forwarding table for forwarding frames received from the one of the first bases via the single access line; and a second virtual VPN apparatus that is connected to the second base via one of the at least two access lines, carries out a frame forwarding process by using a second forwarding table for forwarding frames received from the second base via the one of the at least two access lines, and does not carry out forwarding frames to one of the other VPN apparatuses that is connected to the second base via another one of the at least two access lines, wherein: the first virtual VPN apparatus is connected to all the other VPN apparatuses in a full-mesh shape through pseudo lines; the second virtual VPN apparatus is connected to remained other VPN apparatuses except the one of the other VPN apparatuses that is connected to the second base via another one of the at least two access lines in a full-mesh shape through pseudo lines; the first virtual VPN apparatus and the second virtual VPN apparatus are interconnected through a pseudo line; and the first virtual VPN apparatus and the second virtual VPN apparatus permit to forward frames received from an access line to other access lines and pseudo lines, and permit to forward frames received from a pseudo line to access lines except other pseudo lines.