Apparatus and methods for establishing virtual private networks in a broadband network

摘要

Service providers can reduce multiple overlay networks by creating multiple logical service networks (LSNs) (302, 304, 306 and 308) on the same physical or optical fiber network. The LSNs (302, 304, 306 and 308) are established by the service provider and can be characterized by traffic type, bandwidth, delay, hop count, guaranteed information rates and /or restoration priorities. Once established, the LSNs (302, 304, 306 and 308) allow the service provider to deliver a variety of services to customers depending on customer's traffic specifications. Different traffic specifications are serviced on different LSNs (302, 304, 306 and 308), depending on each LSNs characteristics. Such LSNs (302, 304, 306 and 308), once built within a broadband network, can be customized and sold to multiple customers.