Abstract: The present invention relates to an access unit for coupling a plurality of subscribers to a data communication network, and comprising an auto-configuration control unit adapted to learn, from first auto-configuration data issued by an auto-configuration server and transiting through said access unit towards a particular subscriber coupled to said access unit, a particular network address as being dynamically assigned to said particular subscriber.

Abstract: A method for engineering traffic between an ingress router and an egress router of a packet network, whereby the traffic is scheduled within the ingress router in queues pertaining to different service classes, and whereby part of the traffic follows a dedicated tunnel between the ingress and egress routers, includes the step of provisioning of a tunnel queue dedicated to the part of the traffic intended to flow via the dedicated tunnel, for separately and temporarily storing the part of the traffic towards the dedicated tunnel, and a further step of shaping the part of the traffic towards the dedicated tunnel before entering the traffic tunnel. Further embodiments include the provisioning of a set of queues, pertaining to the different service classes, to one or more of these dedicated traffic tunnels, as well as the provisioning of associated shapers.

Abstract: A telecommunication network with fast-reroute features wherein a method is used to release, by means of a “Path_Tear Message”, a Label Switched Path [LSP] established between linked routers (A, B, C, D, E). The routers are linked in cascade according to a Main Path (AB, BC, CD, DE) and are further linked in another order according to at least one Detour Path (ac, ce; bd). The Path_Tear Message includes a tag indicating, in each router, whether this Path_Tear Message should be immediately forwarded towards a downstream-located router or not. It is thereby possible to obtain a faster release of any unused Label Switched Path [LSP] than waiting for a timeout of 1 to 2 minutes, as it is currently the case.

Abstract: In access multiplexers (1) comprising network interfaces (22) for interfacing network links (12) with network units (2) and comprising customer interfaces (23) for interfacing customer links (13) with customer units (3) and comprising coupling means (31) for coupling the interfaces (22, 23), allocating means (32) are introduced for allocating Medium Access Control addresses to Point to Point Protocol sessions and controlling means (34) are introduced for controlling the access multiplexer (1) in dependence of allocations, for reducing complexities. The network links (12) comprise Ethernet connections defined by one or more Virtual Local Area Network tags per service provider. The allocating means (32) comprise relating means (33) for relating combinations of Virtual Local Area Network tags and Medium Access Control addresses and session identifications of Point to Point Protocol sessions, with the allocations comprising relationships.

Abstract: In access multiplexers (1) comprising network interfaces (22) for interfacing network links (12) with network units (2) and comprising customer interfaces (23-25) for interfacing customer links (13-15) with customer units (3-5) and comprising coupling means (31) for coupling the interfaces (22-25), allocating means (32) are introduced for allocating Medium Access Control addresses to Internet Protocol sessions and controlling means (30) are introduced for controlling the access multiplexers (1) in dependence of allocations, for increasing efficiencies. The customer units (3-5) form part of one subnet (10). The network links (12) comprise Ethernet connections defined by Virtual Local Area Network tags per subnet (10). The allocating means (32) comprise relating means (33) for relating combinations of Virtual Local Area Network tags and Medium Access Control addresses to session identifications of the Internet Protocol sessions, with the allocations comprising relationships.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an access unit comprising: at least one user port for coupling to a user device, at least one network port for coupling to an edge router, a local repository wherein user network addresses are held in one-to-one relationship with user port identifiers, a forwarding unit coupled to the at least one user port and the at least one network port, and adapted to receive through a particular user port a request to resolve a particular network address into a hardware address, and to forward the request through a particular network port towards the edge router, An access unit according to the invention further comprises a forwarding control unit coupled to the local repository and to the forwarding unit, and adapted to get from the local repository a particular port identifier associated with the particular network address, and to discard the request if the particular port identifier identifies the particular port.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an access unit for coupling a plurality of subscribers to a data communication network, and comprising an auto-configuration control unit adapted to learn, from first auto-configuration data issued by an auto-configuration server and transiting through said access unit towards a particular subscriber coupled to said access unit, a particular network address as being dynamically assigned to said particular subscriber.

Abstract: A method for engineering traffic between an ingress router and an egress router of a packet network, whereby said traffic is scheduled within said ingress router in queues pertaining to different service classes, and whereby part of the traffic follows a dedicated tunnel between said ingress and said egress router, includes the step of provisioning of a tunnel queue dedicated to said part of the traffic intended to flow via said dedicated tunnel, for separately and temporarily storing said part of the traffic towards said dedicated tunnel, and a further step of shaping said part of the traffic towards said dedicated tunnel before entering in said traffic tunnel. Further embodiments comprise the provisioning of a set of queues, pertaining to the different service classes, to one or more of these dedicated traffic tunnels, as well as the provisioning of associated shapers.

Abstract: A telecommunication network with fast-reroute features wherein a method is used to release, by means of a “Path_Tear Message”, a Label Switched Path [LSP] established between linked routers (A, B, C, D, E). The routers are linked in cascade according to a Main Path (AB, BC, CD, DE) and are further linked in another order according to at least one Detour Path (ac, ce; bd). The Path_Tear Message includes a tag indicating, in each router, whether this Path_Tear Message should be immediately forwarded towards a downstream-located router or not. It is thereby possible to obtain a faster release of any unused Label Switched Path [LSP] than waiting for a timeout of 1 to 2 minutes, as it is currently the case.

Abstract: With the present invention, a Multiple Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) tunnel is extended from the ingress router to the ingress customer interface, and from the egress router to the egress customer interface, by means of stitching. Stitching is used to provide customers with virtual leased lines between two interfaces by extending MPLS tunnels from a router to a customer interface. Also, with the present invention tunnels can be “stitched” together between two domains. More specifically, the present invention provides customers with virtual leased lines between two routing domains (i.e., between two Autonomous Systems) by connecting two separate MPLS tunnels across the interface between the domains.