Managed private network system

Abstract

A managed private network (“MPN”) system for interconnecting enterprise entities to subscriber entities. The MPN system uses the ATM protocol and segregates data for an enterprise on to virtual connections dedicated to the enterprise. Each enterprise may have a single connection to the MPN system. The MPN system may forward data to various service providers through which subscriber entities may be connected to the MPN system. Thus, the enterprise entities need not have a separate physical connection to each service provider. Also, the MPN system can offer services (e.g., archival storage) to the enterprise entities. The MPN system ensures that data for one enterprise will not be intermingled with the data of another enterprise.

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . A method of doing business comprising:
 establishing a connection between a network and enterprise entities;   establishing a connection between the network and subscriber entities, wherein each subscriber entity is assigned to an enterprise entity;   transmitting data between the enterprise entities and their subscriber entities; and   providing a service to an enterprise entity whereby the service uses data transmitted to the network from the enterprise entity via the established connection.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the network uses an ATM protocol. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the network segregates data for the enterprises into virtual connections dedicated to an enterprise. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 19  wherein an enterprise entity can transmit data to subscriber entities through different service providers. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the provided service includes converting ATM data to LAN data. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the service is forwarding data between the enterprise entity and a telephone network. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the service is archival storage of data of an enterprise entity. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12  wherein some subscriber entities are connected to the network indirectly through service providers. 
   
   
       20 . A method in a communications system for transmitting data from subscribers to enterprises, the method comprising:
 receiving data of subscribers through multiple service providers using different sub-network layers; and   for each enterprise, transmitting the received data of the subscribers assigned to that enterprise into a network layer for the enterprise   whereby the data for each enterprise is transmitted via a separate network layer.   
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  wherein the sub-network layers are the physical and data link layers of the OSI protocol and the network layer is the network layer of the OSI protocol. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  further including transmitting data from enterprises to subscribers by receiving data of an enterprise through a network layer for the enterprise and transmitting the data to the service provider associated with the subscriber. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  wherein an aggregating ATM component receives the data from the service providers. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20  wherein a switching ATM component transmits data to the enterprises. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20  further including receiving data from an enterprise and forwarding the received data to a LAN dedicated to the enterprise.