The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 01, 2000
Allen Houston, Ballyclare, GB;
Paul Fee, Belfast, GB;
Christopher Murton, Chelmsford, GB;
Ewart Tempest, Ottawa, CA;
Philip Christian, Bishop's Stortford, GB;
Nortel Networks Limited, St. Laurent, CA;
Abstract
The present invention relates to data tunnelling and in one embodiment to the tunnelling of IP (Internet Protocol) data across an OSI (Open Systems Interconnect) network. In the preferred embodiment, network elements include both an OSI stack and an IP stack, and a respective directory of OSI addresses and corresponding IP subnets. Each network element generates a routing data packet, conveniently a Link State Packet (LSP), which includes the OSI address and IP subnet(s) associated with that network element. The LSPs are distributed across the network in normal manner. Upon receipt of an LSP from another network element, each network element updates its respective directory in respect of said other network element. Thus, each directory is automatically updated to reflect changes in the network, particularly in respect of IP subnets. This arrangement significantly reduces the need for manual tunnel configuration in the network. In an alternative embodiment, the invention provides dynamic data tunnelling of OSI data over an IP network.