Patent Document ID: 20120063451
Application ID: 12916730
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A method for packet switching and routing in a computer network that provides dual homed access, the method comprising: identifying a transport network, the transport network including switching devices that interconnect at least two separate access networks for transporting data traffic between end stations connected to the access networks, the transport network using tunnels to encapsulate and transmit data packets between respective switching devices; identifying a first switching device that connects a first access network to the transport network; identifying a second switching device that also connects the first access network to the transport network, the first and second switching devices providing the first access network with a dual homed connection to the transport network; creating a virtual tunnel that connects the first switching device to a third switching device within the transport network, the virtual tunnel also connecting the second switching device to the third switching device within the transport network, the virtual tunnel defining a single virtualized source device address representing both the first switching device and the second switching device; and in response to receiving a data packet from the first access network via the dual homed connection, encapsulating the data packet with the single virtualized source device address and transmitting the encapsulated data packet via the virtual tunnel to the third switching device.