Access network architecture having dissimilar access sub-networks

摘要

A subscriber network architecture includes a packet processing node that communicates with a network backbone and with a plurality of access nodes. The access nodes communicate with a plurality of user devices. The packet processing node controls Quality of Service (QoS) levels for the subscriber devices, routes user data to devices via the access nodes and receives data from devices via the access nodes for forwarding across the network backbone.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving a first data packet at a first access node of a network and from a packet processing node of the network, the first access node communicating with a first group of user devices; forwarding the first data packet, to a destination user device of the first group of user devices, using a first transport technology and a first media access control (MAC) protocol associated with the first transport technology; receiving a second data packet at a second access node of the network and from the packet processing node, the second access node communicating with a second group of user devices; and forwarding the second data packet, to a destination user device of the second group of user devices, using a second transport technology and a second MAC protocol associated with the second transport technology, wherein the first and second transport technologies are different and the first and second MAC protocols are different.