Abstract: An edge router (Broadband Remote Access Server) and a method are described herein that obtain a Media Access Control (MAC) address of an end device (consumer premises equipment). Once, the edge router obtains the MAC address of the end device then it can use Ethernet Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) tools to troubleshoot the end device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an access node (2) for connecting a subscriber device (1) to an IPv6-capable aggregation network (3), and adapted to receive an upstream IPv6 packet (Ns1O; RS1O; NA1O) comprising an IPv6 address (LLIP@O) held by the subscriber device. An access node according to the invention is further adapted to assign a new interface identifier (IDT) to the subscriber device that is unique within the scope of a L2 communication domain (6), which the subscriber device belongs to, to substitute, within the upstream IPv6 packet, the new interface identifier for an original interface identifier (IDO) of the IPv6 address, thereby yielding a translated upstream IPv6 packet (Ns1T; Rs1T; NA1T) comprising a translated IPv6 address (LLIP@T), and to forward the translated upstream IPv6 packet towards the aggregation network. The present invention also relates to a method for connecting a subscriber device to an IPv6-capable aggregation network.

Abstract: An in-band diagnostic tool and method are described herein that are capable of retrieving subscriber information from one or more nodes located within a layer 2 aggregation network. In one application, the diagnostic tool and method can be used by a customer service representative to retrieve subscriber information (e.g., user privileges, current bandwidth usage, available bandwidth) related to a customer that receives television, Internet etc. from an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network (which is an application-specific layer 2 aggregation network).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an access node (2) for connecting a subscriber device (1) to an IPv6-capable aggregation network (3), and adapted to receive an upstream IPv6 packet (Ns1O; RS1O; NA1O) comprising an IPv6 address (LLIP@O) held by the subscriber device. An access node according to the invention is further adapted to assign a new interface identifier (IDT) to the subscriber device that is unique within the scope of a L2 communication domain (6), which the subscriber device belongs to, to substitute, within the upstream IPv6 packet, the new interface identifier for an original interface identifier (IDO) of the IPv6 address, thereby yielding a translated upstream IPv6 packet (Ns1T; Rs1T; NA1T) comprising a translated IPv6 address (LLIP@T), and to forward the translated upstream IPv6 packet towards the aggregation network. The present invention also relates to a method for connecting a subscriber device to an IPv6-capable aggregation network.

Abstract: An access node (e.g., DSLAM, OLT/ONT) is described herein that implements a trust verification method comprising the steps of: (a) filtering an up-stream message initiated by a non-trusted device (e.g., CPE); (b) intercepting the filtered up-stream message if the filtered up-stream message is a connectivity fault management message (e.g., LB message, LBR message, CC message); (c) inserting a trusted identification into the intercepted up-stream message; and (d) outputting the intercepted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification. Thereafter, a trusted device (e.g., BRAS) receives and analyzes the outputted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification message to ascertain a trustworthiness of the non-trusted device (e.g., CPE). Several different ways that an access network (e.g., IPTV network) can implement the trust verification method are also described herein.

Abstract: An access node (e.g., DSLAM, OLT/ONT) is described herein that implements a trust verification method comprising the steps of: (a) filtering an up-stream message initiated by a non-trusted device (e.g., CPE); (b) intercepting the filtered up-stream message if the filtered up-stream message is a connectivity fault management message (e.g., LB message, LBR message, CC message); (c) inserting a trusted identification into the intercepted up-stream message; and (d) outputting the intercepted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification. Thereafter, a trusted device (e.g., BRAS) receives and analyzes the outputted up-stream message with the inserted trusted identification message to ascertain a trustworthiness of the non-trusted device (e.g., CPE). Several different ways that an access network (e.g., IPTV network) can implement the trust verification method are also described herein.

Abstract: An in-band diagnostic tool and method are described herein that are capable of retrieving subscriber information from one or more nodes located within a layer 2 aggregation network. In one application, the diagnostic tool and method can be used by a customer service representative to retrieve subscriber information (e.g., user privileges, current bandwidth usage, available bandwidth) related to a customer that receives television, Internet etc. from an Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) network (which is an application-specific layer 2 aggregation network).

Abstract: An edge router (Broadband Remote Access Server) and a method are described herein that obtain a Media Access Control (MAC) address of an end device (consumer premises equipment). Once, the edge router obtains the MAC address of the end device then it can use Ethernet Operation, Administration and Maintenance (OAM) tools to troubleshoot the end device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an access control unit (21) of a data communication network (61) comprising an access control means (101) adapted to receive an authorization (111) from an authentication server (51), whereby a particular user (15) is authorized to access said data communication network, and thereupon to grant said particular user an access (106) to said data communication network.

Abstract: The present invention is applicable to access networks across which virtual connections have been provisioned to meet traffic and QoS requirements. The present invention improves service integrity by controlling the right for a service instance to use the network resources that have been provisioned for its class of service. Whenever a subscriber requests a service that requires a pre-determined bandwidth with a pre-determined QoS, one checks whether the virtual connection over which the service will be delivered to the subscriber can convey the required bandwidth with the required QoS. According to the check outcome, the service is granted or denied to the subscriber. The present invention may further improve the usage of the network resources. This second object is achieved by adapting the configuration of the access network according to the real traffic demand.

Abstract: An xDSL access system initiates an ATM point-to-multipoint connection with a source connected to the ATM network responsive to an IGMP control message received from one of the end user systems requesting a particular data stream. The source formats the data stream into IP packets having an IP multicast address. These IP packets are first encapsulated into Ethernet frames and then the source ATM encapsulates the Ethernet frames into ATM cells and launches the cells into the ATM network. The xDSL access system receives these cells over the ATM point-to-multipoint connection and transmits the cells to the end user system. The end user receives the xDSL modulated signal, reassembles the IP packets from the ATM cells and sends the packets to the end user; and then the end user receives the IP packets and re-formats them into a particular data stream.

Abstract: In a switching network with a plurality of inlets and outlets and a plurality of interconnected switching nodes having inputs and outputs with respective addresses, a method is described of modifying a first set of outlets to which a cell stream is routed from one of the inlets to a second set of outlets to which this cell stream is to be routed, the addresses of the outputs of each switching node from which the cell stream is output being stored in a routing table of the node. The method includes the steps of transmitting a modification request message to the inlets from each outlet belonging to one but not to both sets and in each switching node receiving the modification request message on one of its outputs, selectively transmitting the request message to the inlets or transmitting a confirmation message to the above each outlet depending on the absence or presence in the node routing table of addresses of node outputs other than the one node output, respectively.