Metro Ethernet Network With Scaled Broadcast And Service Instance Domains

Abstract

A method of operation for a provider edge device of a core network includes receiving a customer frame from an access network; the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length. The first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier. The service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag is then mapped into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72 (b).

1 . A method of operation for a network-facing provider edge device (n-PE) of a core network, the method comprising:
 receiving a customer frame from an access network of a service provide (SP) associated with a core network, the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length, the first VLAN tag including broadcast and service instance identifiers for connections across the access network;   mapping the service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length; and   encapsulating the customer frame with a provide address header.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 stacking a third VLAN tag on the second VLAN tag, the third VLAN tag being different from the second VLAN tag. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the core network comprises an Ethernet core network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein core network comprises a Multi-protocol label switching (MPLS)/Internet Protocol (IP) network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first predetermined bit length is 12-bits and the second predetermined bit length is 20-bits. 
     
     
         7 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method of operation for a network-facing provider edge device (n-PE) of a core network, the method comprising:
 receiving a customer frame from an access network of an SP associated with a core network, the customer frame having a customer Media Access Control (MAC) header, a customer Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag and a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length, the first VLAN tag including broadcast and service a serviceinstance identifier identifiers for connections across the access network; and   mapping the service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length, the second VLAN tag specifying a broadcast domain and a service instance domain of the core network; and   encapsulating the customer frame within a provider address header.   
     
     
         13 .- 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the core network comprises an Ethernet core network. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the access network comprises an Ethernet access network. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the first predetermined bit length is 12-bits and the second predetermined bit length is 20-bits. 
     
     
         18 . A method of operation for a user-facing provider edge device (u-PE) of an access network, the method comprising:
 receiving a customer frame from a customer edge (CE) device;   adding a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag to the customer frame, the first VLAN tag designating a broadcast domain in an access network; and   adding a second VLAN tag having a bit length of 20-bits or more to the customer frame, the second VLAN tag designating a service instance identifiers identifier in the access network; and   encapsulating the customer frame with a provider address header.   
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the access network comprises an Ethernet access network. 
     
     
         21 . A network-facing provider edge (n-PE) device comprising:
 a port to receive a customer frame from an access network associated with a service provider (SP), the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length, the first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier; and   a processing unit configured to:
 map the service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length; and 
   encapsulate the customer frame with a provider address header, and also to stack a third VLAN tag on the second VLAN tag, the third VLAN tag specifying a broadcast domain for connections across a core network of the SP.   
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . The n-PE device of  claim 21  wherein the processing unit is further configured to stack a third VLAN tag on the second VLAN tag, the third VLAN tag being different from the second VLAN tag. 
     
     
         24 . The n-PE device of  claim 21  wherein the first predetermined bit length is 12-bits and the second predetermined bit length is 20-bits. 
     
     
         25 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A network-facing provider edge device (n-PE) device comprising:
 a port configured to receive a customer frame from an access network, the customer frame having a customer Media Access Control (MAC) header, a customer Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag and a first VLAN tag of a first predetermined bit length, the first VLAN tag including broadcast and service instance identifiers for connections across the access network; and   a processing unit configured to: that maps
 map the broadcast and service instance identifier identifiers of the first VLAN tag into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length, the second VLAN tag designating a broadcast domain and a service instance domain through a service provider (SP) core network, and 
 encapsulate the customer frame within a SP address header. 
   
     
     
         28 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The n-PE device of  claim 27  wherein the first predetermined bit length is 12-bits and the second predetermined bit length is 20-bits. 
     
     
         31 . A user-facing provider edge device (u-PE) device comprising:
 a port configured to receive a customer frame from a customer edge (CE) device, the customer frame including a customer VLAN and a customer Media Access Control (MAC) header; and   a processing unit configured to:
 add a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag having a bit length of 20-bits or more to the customer frame, the VLAN tag including broadcast domain and a service instance identifiers designating a broadcast domain and a service instance domain, respectively, for connections across the Ethernet access network and through a core network of a service provide (SP); and 
 encapsulate the customer frame within a SP MAC header. 
   
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A provider edge device comprising:
 a plurality of ports; and   means for adding a first and second Extended Virtual Local Area Network (E-VLAN) tags to a first frame received at a first port for transmission across a service provider (SP) core network, the first frame including a customer Media Access Control (MAC) header and a customer VLAN tag, the first E-VLAN tag designating a broadcast domain through an access network associated with the service provider (SP) core network, the first frame including a customer Media Access Control (MAC) header and a customer VLAN tag, the first E-VLAN tag designating a broadcast domain through an access network associated with the service provider (SP) core network, and the second E-VLAN tag identifying a service instance through the access network and the service provide (SP) core network, the means also for encapsulating the first frame with a provider address header, the means also for dropping the first and second E-VLAN tags.   
     
     
         34 .- 36 . (canceled)