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. 03, 2010
Filed:
Jun. 06, 2005
Earl Hardin Booth, Iii, Raleigh, NC (US);
William Mark Townsley, Nashville, TN (US);
Wei Luo, San Jose, CA (US);
George Wilkie, Dalgety Bay, GB;
Earl Hardin Booth, III, Raleigh, NC (US);
William Mark Townsley, Nashville, TN (US);
Wei Luo, San Jose, CA (US);
George Wilkie, Dalgety Bay, GB;
Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for processing a signal on an intermediate network node at an edge of a provider packet-switched network to support a link-layer virtual private network includes receiving a signal on a particular interface. The particular interface is for a direct communication link to a customer network node outside the provider network. It is determined whether the signal indicates that the particular interface is changing from an inactive state to an active state, whereby the signal is called first sign of life (FSOL). If it is determined that the signal is FSOL, then configuration data is determined for configuring the particular interface for the particular virtual private network. The signal is processed based on the configuration data. These techniques allow a dynamic response to new signals on a customer interface without human intervention by the provider.