Abstract: A device and method for exchanging data frames are disclosed. In one aspect, the device exchanges data between a WAN and one or more LAN segments in an optimized way leading to a better quality of experience for the user. The device comprises an interface exchanging data frames over an access network, at least a first and second subnet interface exchanging data frames and arranged for being coupled to a network, a memory storing classification rules, a classification agent extracting information from an incoming data frame and applying the rules to the extracted information to determine the interface via which the incoming data frame is to be forwarded, and a Quality of Service monitoring agent for retrieving Quality of Service information from the subnet interfaces and dynamically updating the classification rules according to the QoS information.

Abstract: Methods for transmitting information from sources (7) via first network units (1) and networks (8) and second network units (2) to destinations (9) and using service identifiers such as service virtual local area network identifiers for routing the information through the networks (8) get a reduced complexity by making the service identifiers dependent on destination properties such as destination addresses and by making the service identifiers independent from source properties such as source addresses or customer identifiers.

Abstract: A method to grant a supplicant access to a data communication network and related devices is claimed. The supplicant is associated to a Medium Access Control address and is coupled to a port of an authenticator of the data communication network. The method includes: transmitting an authentication request by the authenticator to an authentication server being coupled thereto; making by the authentication server an authentication decision based upon predefined rules and conditions; and transmitting by the authentication server to the authenticator an authentication reply that comprises a result of the authentication decision.

Abstract: An access node (1) that is preferably a Flow-Aware Ethernet DSLAM configured to transmit Ethernet data frames between subscribers (2) and an aggregation network (3). The access node comprises a first memory (4) for storing classification rules and a second memory (6) for storing flow rules. These rules are applied by a classification agent (5) and by a service agent (7) to information extracted from incoming data frames in order to infer flow awareness information of outgoing frames corresponding to these incoming data frame. In this way, the subscriber access network evolves to a multi-service architecture by replacing ATM with Ethernet for cost reasons. The concept of “flow awareness” is applied to the present access node. With respect to known tunnel-based Ethernet DSLAMs, the present access node removes all dependency on correct encapsulation or labeling at the customer side and at the service provider side.

Abstract: A device and method for exchanging data frames are disclosed. In one aspect, the device exchanges data between a WAN and one or more LAN segments in an optimized way leading to a better quality of experience for the user. The device comprises an interface exchanging data frames over an access network, at least a first and second subnet interface exchanging data frames and arranged for being coupled to a network, a memory storing classification rules, a classification agent extracting information from an incoming data frame and applying the rules to the extracted information to determine the interface via which the incoming data frame is to be forwarded, and a Quality of Service monitoring agent for retrieving Quality of Service information from the subnet interfaces and dynamically updating the classification rules according to the QoS information.

Abstract: Different services like video-on-demand and Internet Protocol telephony require different paths with different transmission profiles. Known modem systems (1) and aggregators (7) select paths by detecting additional information in packet signals, like in Ethernet the so-called Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tags, and in Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) so-called (virtual) path identifiers. This disadvantageous additional information can be avoided by detecting (71) a source/destination address and, in response to said detecting, selecting (72) a transmission profile and, in dependence of said selecting, supplying (70) said packet signal to a path defined by said selected transmission profile. Solely the source/destination address, like a source address and/or a destination address, being Ethernet addresses, Internet Protocol addresses or even port addresses, allow said selecting, which is more efficient.

Abstract: A Digital Subscriber Line [DSL] access network consisting of a home network (HN) at a user premises, an access network (AN) comprising a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer [DSLAM], an aggregation network (GN) consisting of aggregation switches (AS), and a content network (CN). The content network comprises a Broadband Remote Access Server [BRAS] and local servers (LS) providing connectivity to the Internet for a user (S) in the home network, a Remote Authentication Dial-In User Server [RADIUS] connected to the BRAS for authentication, authorization and accounting of the user, and a digital broadcast network (DN) adapted to broadcast audio and video content to the user. The aggregation network is adapted to couple the BRAS and the digital broadcast network to the DSLAM of the access network. The access network is adapted to couple the DSLAM to a Set Top Box [STB] of the home network.

Abstract: Different services like video-on-demand and Internet Protocol telephony require different paths with different transmission profiles. Known modem systems (1) and aggregators (7) select paths by detecting additional information in packet signals, like in Ethernet the so-called Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tags, and in Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) so-called (virtual) path identifiers. This disadvantageous additional information can be avoided by detecting (71) a source/destination address and, in response to said detecting, selecting (72) a transmission profile and, in dependence of said selecting, supplying (70) said packet signal to a path defined by said selected transmission profile. Solely the source/destination address, like a source address and/or a destination address, being Ethernet addresses, Internet Protocol addresses or even port addresses, allow said selecting, which is more efficient.