Inter-provider network architecture

Abstract

An inter-provider network architecture system is disclosed. In particular, the system may enable a service provider network and a partner network to take advantage of each other's network cores, such that the resources of the service provider network and the partner network may be more effectively utilized to service customers of both networks. By doing so, not only can the service provider network and the partner network take advantage of each other's network resources, but they can also give each other's customers broader network reach into regions that are not typically serviced by their own networks. The service provider network may effectively accomplish this by providing a limited view of the service provider network to the partner network, or vice versa, so that traffic and data can flow between the networks without each network having to be fully aware of each other's entire network topologies.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request for content from a user device, wherein the request includes a network prefix for a service provider network;   determining that the request comprises accessing a partner network to retrieve the content;   generating a first advertisement containing the network prefix;   publishing the first advertisement at a first service provider exchange point;   transmitting the network prefix to a first partner provider exchange point with a first label indicating that the service provider exchange point is a first next hop;   establishing a first connection between the first service provider exchange point and the first partner provider exchange point;   receiving the content by the service provider network; and   delivering the content to the user device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 publishing a second advertisement containing a loopback of the service provider exchange point; 
 establishing a second connection between the second service provider exchange point and the second partner provider exchange point; and 
 wherein receiving the content comprises receiving the content at the loopback service exchange point of the service provider network. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the receiving the content step comprises receiving the content based on the shortest path to the first service provider access point. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a cost metric associated with the request is conveyed to the partner network. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the request for content includes a virtual private network identifier associated with the user device and wherein the first connection forms a virtual private network between the service provider network and the partner network. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the virtual private network identifier is used to define route targets on the service provider network and the partner network. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the connection between the service provider network and the partner network uses an external border control protocol. 
     
     
         8 . A method comprising:
 receiving a request from a user device to establish a virtual private network, wherein the request includes a virtual private network identifier and a network prefix;   determining that the virtual private network includes access to a server on a partner network;   advertising the network prefix at a service provider exchange point;   connecting the service provider network to the partner network through a service provider exchange point and a partner provider exchange point wherein the network prefix and the virtual private network identifier is communicated to the partner network; and   establishing the virtual private network between the user device and the server.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the virtual private network is define using route targets on the service provider network and the partner provider network. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the advertising the network prefix includes a label indicating that a next hop is the service provider exchange point. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the virtual private network includes a shortest path between the device and the server. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the request includes a request for content and wherein the content is on the server, further comprising transmitting the content from the server to the user device using the virtual private network. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 An input-output interface, a processor and a memory that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:   receiving a request from a user device to establish a virtual private network, wherein the request includes a virtual private network identifier and a network prefix;   determining that the virtual private network includes access to a server on a partner network;   advertising the network prefix at a service provider exchange point;   connecting the service provider network to the partner network through a service provider exchange point and a partner provider exchange point wherein the network prefix and the virtual private network identifier is communicated to the partner network; and   establishing the virtual private network between the user device and the server.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the virtual private network is define using route targets on the service provider network and the partner provider network. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the advertising the network prefix includes a label indicating that a next hop is the service provider exchange point. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the virtual private network includes a shortest path between the device and the server. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the request includes a request for content and wherein the content is located on the server, and wherein the operations further receiving the content from the server and sending the content to the user device using the virtual private network.