Methods and systems for transmitting and receiving data through tunnel groups

Abstract

Methods and systems for transmitting and receiving data between a first node and a second node through a first tunnel group and a second tunnel group respectively. The first node transmits data to the second node mainly through a first tunnel group and receives data from the second node mainly through a second tunnel group. In some embodiments, the first node receives first IP packets from one of its LAN interfaces and then transmits encapsulated first IP packets and then are transmitted mainly through a first one or more WAN interfaces to the second node. The first node receives encapsulated second IP packets mainly from the second node through a second one or more of its WAN interfaces. Second IP packets are then decapsulated and transmitted through one of the LAN interfaces of the first node.

1 . A method for a first node disposed in a network environment, comprising:
 a. sending data to a second node through a first tunnel group; wherein the first tunnel group comprises at least two tunnels;   b. receiving data from the second node through a second tunnel group; wherein the second tunnel group comprises at least two tunnels;   c. receiving a configuration; wherein the configuration is for assigning tunnel priority for each tunnel of the first tunnel group and the second tunnel group;   
       wherein the at least two tunnels in the first tunnel group and the at least two tunnels in the second tunnel group are formed using at least two network interfaces of the first node and at least one network interface of the second node. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two tunnels of the first tunnel group comprises at least one tunnel established through a satellite modem. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two tunnels of the second tunnel group comprises at least one tunnel established through a cellular modem. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising aggregating at least one of the at least two tunnels in the first tunnel group and at least one tunnel of the at least two tunnels in the second tunnel group are aggregated together to form one aggregated tunnel. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration is received from a user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing a webpage to the user to enter the configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising when performance of a tunnel of the at least two tunnels of the first tunnel group becomes unsatisfactory, the tunnel is not used for sending data to the second node; when performance of a tunnel of the at least two tunnels of the second tunnel group becomes unsatisfactory, the tunnel is not used for receiving data from the second node. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data sent in step (a) and the data received in step (b) are encapsulated in IP packets. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: when a first condition is met, tunnels in the second tunnel group are also used for sending data in step (a). 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: when a second condition is met, tunnels in the first tunnel group are also used for receiving data in step (b). 
     
     
         11 . A first node disposed in a network environment comprising:
 a plurality of network interfaces;   at least one processing unit;   at least one main memory;   at least one secondary storage storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:
 a. sending data to a second node through a first tunnel group; wherein the first tunnel group comprises at least two tunnels; 
 b. receiving data from the second node through a second tunnel group; wherein the second tunnel group comprises at least two tunnels; 
 c. receiving a configuration; wherein the configuration is for assigning tunnel priority for each tunnel of the first tunnel group and the second tunnel group; 
   wherein the at least two tunnels in the first tunnel group and the at least two tunnels in the second tunnel group are formed using at least two network interfaces of the first node and at least one network interface of the second node.   
     
     
         12 . The first node according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least two tunnels of the first tunnel group comprises at least one tunnel established through a satellite modem. 
     
     
         13 . The first node according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least two tunnels of the second tunnel group comprises at least one tunnel established through a cellular modem. 
     
     
         14 . The first node according to  claim 11 , further comprising aggregating at least one of the at least two tunnels in the first tunnel group and at least one tunnel of the at least two tunnels in the second tunnel group are aggregated together to form one aggregated tunnel. 
     
     
         15 . The first node according to  claim 11 , wherein the configuration is received from a user. 
     
     
         16 . The first node according to  claim 15 , wherein the at least one secondary storage further stores program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for providing a webpage to the user to enter the configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The first node according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one secondary storage further stores program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:
 not using a tunnel of the at least two tunnels of the first tunnel group for sending data to the second node when performance of the tunnel becomes unsatisfactory;   not using a tunnel of the at least two tunnels of the second tunnel group for receiving data from the second node when performance of the tunnel becomes unsatisfactory.   
     
     
         18 . The first node according to  claim 11 , wherein the data sent in step (a) and the data received in step (b) are encapsulated in IP packets. 
     
     
         19 . The first node according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one secondary storage further stores program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for also using the tunnels in the second tunnel group for sending data in step (a). 
     
     
         20 . The first node according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one secondary storage further stores program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for also using the tunnels in the first tunnel group for receiving data in the step (b).