Patent ID: 8451833

Claim:
A method for generating an IP-based routing table for use by a transparent routing device disposed within an access network configured in accordance with one or more lower-layer protocols, wherein the transparent routing device comprises a plurality of subscriber-side ports and at least one network-side port, and wherein the transparent routing device is configured to route both upstream and downstream network traffic, said method comprising: receiving a message through a virtual subscriber-side interface that is defined by said transparent routing device and associated with one of the plurality of subscriber-side ports, the message comprising a request; and creating an association within the IP-based routing table between an IP address associated with the message, and said virtual subscriber-side interface; wherein the IP-based routing table is associated with a transparent virtual routing group of the transparent routing device; and wherein the transparent routing device is able to automatically configure the IP-based routing table by determining IP addresses of a plurality of subscriber hosts associated with the transparent virtual routing group.