Zoning for distance pricing and network engineering in connectionless and connection-oriented networks

Abstract

Described are a system and method for establishing zone-based pricing for services transported over connectionless and connection-oriented networks. The connectivity network supporting the service is partitioned into one or more zones. A node connected to a packet transport network receives a packet associated with the service. The packet has information that is used to identify one of the zones of the connectivity network to which the packet can be transmitted. Service providers are thus able to use zoning to apply a pricing structure for services traditionally lacking distance-based pricing, such as Ethernet, Storage, and Internet Protocol services.

1 . A method for establishing zone-based pricing for a service transported over a network, the method comprising:
 partitioning the network into one or more zones; and   receiving, at a node connected to the network, a packet associated with the service and having a tag including a plurality of data bits for identifying an Ethernet virtual local area network (VLAN) for the packet, a portion of the data bits being used to identify one of the zones of the network to which the packet can be transmitted.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) label based on the identified zone to which the packet can be transmitted. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transmitting the packet over a connectionless network. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising transmitting the packet over a connectionless network. 
     
     
         5 . A network, comprising:
 a plurality of zones; and   a node located in one of the zones receiving packets associated with a service transported over the network, the node determining for each packet one of the plurality of zones to which the packets can be transmitted.   
     
     
         6 . The network of  claim 5 , wherein each packet arriving at the node includes service-identifying information, and the node determines from the service-identifying information the zone in the network to which that packet can be transmitted. 
     
     
         7 . The network of  claim 6 , wherein the node includes memory for storing a data structure that associates the service with one of the zones, and queries the data structure using the service-identifying information to determine the zone to which the packet can be transmitted. 
     
     
         8 . The network of  claim 6 , wherein each packet arriving at the node has a tag with data bits for identifying a virtual local area network (VLAN), a portion of the data bits being used to convey the service-identifying information. 
     
     
         9 . The network of  claim 5 , wherein the node adds a zone indicator to each packet based on zone determined for that packet. 
     
     
         10 . The network of  claim 9 , wherein the node adds a tag to each packet having data bits for identifying a virtual local area network (VLAN), a portion of the data bits being used to convey the zone indicator. 
     
     
         11 . The network of  claim 5 , wherein the node determines whether to forward each packet to another zone in the network based on the zone determined for that packet. 
     
     
         12 . The network of  claim 5 , wherein the network is a connectionless network. 
     
     
         13 . The network of  claim 5 , wherein the network is one of an Internet Protocol (IP) network, a private IP network, and a private service provider Ethernet network. 
     
     
         14 . The network of  claim 5 , wherein the service is one of an Ethernet service and an Internet Protocol (IP) Service. 
     
     
         15 . The network of  claim 5 , further comprising an optical transport facility for transporting the packets through the network.