Frame relay switched data service

Abstract

A new type of data transport service which uses a frame relay layer 2 data link connection identifier (DLCI) to select among various service types, feature sets, and/or closed user groups (CUGs). A layer 3 address may be extracted from a layer 2 frame, and the layer 3 address information may be used to route a data packet over a packet-switched network according to the service classes, feature sets, and/or CUGs selected. At the destination, the layer 3 data packet may again be enclosed in a layer 2 frame with a DLCI indicating the service classes, features sets, and/or CUGs. Because the use of conventional permanent virtual circuits (PVCs) is not required in aspects of the invention, new methods of measuring and managing network traffic are presented.

1 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving frame relay data packets into a fast packet network;    switching said frame relay data packets within the fast packet network responsive to a dynamically computed data link connection identifier (DLCI), each DLCI corresponding to a plurality of destinations, wherein the plurality of destinations comprises a virtual private network, where each frame relay data packet comprising user data in a user data field; and    routing said frame relay data packets within the virtual private network responsive to the user data.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user data further comprises one of voice data, video data, and multicast data.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the user data comprises and IP address.  
   
   
       4 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving frame relay data packets into a fast packet network;    switching said frame relay data packets within the fast packet network responsive to a dynamically computed data link connection identifier (DLCI), each DLCI corresponding to a plurality of destinations; and    wherein said dynamic computation comprises basing the data link connection identifier (DLCI) on interactive application information.    
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said interactive application information corresponds to a telnet application.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said interactive application information corresponds to a file transfer protocol (FTP) application.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said interactive application information corresponds to a network based application.  
   
   
       8 . A method comprising the steps of: 
 receiving frame relay data packets into a fast packet network;    switching said frame relay data packets within the fast packet network responsive to a dynamically computed data link connection identifier (DLCI), each DLCI corresponding to a plurality of destinations; and    wherein said dynamic computation comprises basing the data link connection identifier (DLCI) on a layer 3 network address.    
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein said layer 3 network address comprises an internal company address.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein said internal company address is located within a virtual private network.