Viasat, Inc.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING TRAFFIC FORWARDER VIA DYNAMIC OVERLAY NETWORK

Abstract:

A process capable of facilitating network communication using forwarders or vforwarders interconnected via an overlay network is disclosed. The process, in one aspect, is able to receive a packet stream or network traffic from a customer premise equipment ("CPE") using a point-to-point ("PTP") connection via the overlay network. After identifying a service component able to provide a network function ("NF") in accordance with the packet stream, at least a portion of the packet stream is forwarded to the service component via a second PTP connection through the overlay network according to a set of predefined requirements. Upon receipt of a processed packet stream in response to the packet stream from the service component, the processed packet stream is forwarded to another forwarder via a hop-to-hop ("HTH") link through the overlay network in accordance with the processed packet stream.