Systems and Methods for Implementing Second-Link Routing in Packet Switched Networks

Abstract

A network ( 100 ) includes multiple gateways ( 135, 140 ) and a router ( 105 ) connected to at least one of the multiple gateways ( 135, 140 ). The router ( 105 ) is configured to receive packets that include multiple first virtual circuit identifiers associated with the multiple gateways in the network ( 100 ), assign second virtual circuit identifiers to the at least one connected gateway, and initiate transmission of a message to the at least one connected gateway informing the gateway of the first virtual circuit identifiers.

1 . A packet-based network comprising: 
 a first gateway node communicatively coupled between a first routing node and a first local area network (LAN);    a second gateway node communicatively coupled between a second routing node and a second LAN; and    at least one virtual circuit established between the first gateway node and the second gateway node operable to communicate Internet Protocol (IP) traffic between the first LAN and the second LAN, wherein the virtual circuit is identified in memory of the first gateway node using information received from the first routing node, the information comprising a virtual circuit identifier associated with the second gateway node.