Nova Patents
CA2951940C

Cloud-based services exchange

Abstract

In general, a cloud-based services exchange (or "cloud exchange") for interconnecting multiple cloud service providers with multiple cloud service customers is described. The cloud exchange may enable cloud customers to bypass the public Internet to directly connect to cloud services providers so as to improve performance, reduce costs, increase the security and privacy of the connections, and leverage cloud computing for additional applications. In this way, enterprises, network carriers, and SaaS customers, for instance, can integrate cloud services with their internal applications as if such services are part of or otherwise directly coupled to their own data center network.

CA2951940C, drawing sheet 1
Sheet 1 of 11

Term

9.6 yearsleft in the term

Expires 15 April 2036.

  1. Priority
  2. Filed
  3. Granted
  4. Today
  5. Expires

29 claims: 4 independent, 25 dependent

  1. 1
    A cloud-based services exchange point comprising:a layer three (L3) autonomous system located within a data center, wherein the L3 autonomous system is configured to receive, from each of a plurality of cloud service provider networks, cloud service traffic for at least one cloud service and for distribution to one or more customer networks: a plurality of attachment circuits configured to connect, within the data center, the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks to the L3 autonomous system;and one or more attachment circuits configured to connect, within the data center, the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system, wherein the L3 autonomous system is configured to interconnect the plurality of cloud service provider networks and the one or more customer networks by establishing end-to-end L3 paths between the plurality of cloud service provider networks and the one or more customer networks, each end-to-end L3 path including one of the plurality of attachment circuits connecting the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks to the L3 autonomous system and also including one of the one or more attachment circuits connecting the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system, wherein the L3 autonomous system is configured to forward cloud service traffic, received on the plurality of attachment circuits connecting the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks along the end-to-end L3 paths, to the one or more attachment circuits connecting the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system.
  2. 2
    The cloud-based services exchange point of claim I, wherein the L3 autonomous system is configured with an autonomous system number that identifies the L3 autonomous system within an autonomous system path to a routing protocol. CA 2951940 2017-12-15
  3. 15
    A method comprising:by a layer three (L3) autonomous system of a cloud-based services exchange point and located within a data center, receiving, from each of a plurality of cloud service provider networks, cloud service traffic for at least one cloud service and for distribution to one or more customer networks, wherein a plurality' of attachment circuits is configured to connect, within the data center, the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks to the L3 autonomous system, wherein one or more attachment circuits are configured to connect, within the data center, the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system;interconnecting, by the L3 autonomous system, the plurality of cloud service provider networks and the one or more customer networks by establishing end-to-end L3 paths between the plurality of cloud service provider networks and the one or more customer networks, each end-to-end L3 path including one of the plurality of attachment circuits connecting the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks to the L3 autonomous system and also including one of the one or more attachment circuits connecting the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system;forwarding, by the L3 autonomous system, cloud service traffic, received on the plurality of attachment circuits connecting the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks along the end-to-end L3 paths, to the one or more attachment circuits connecting the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system.
  4. 29
    A cloud-based services exchange point comprising:an interconnection platform configured to expose a collection of software interfaces that allow programmable access to capabilities and assets of the cloud-based services exchange;a layer three (L3) autonomous system located within a data center, wherein the L3 autonomous system is configured to receive, from each of a plurality of cloud service provider networks, cloud service traffic for at least one cloud service and for distribution to one or more customer networks;CA 2951940 2017-12-15 a plurality of attachment circuits configured to connect, within the data center, the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks to the L3 autonomous system;and one or more attachment circuits configured to connect, within the data center, the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system, wherein the L3 autonomous system is configured by the interconnection platform to interconnect the plurality of cloud service provider networks and the one or more customer networks by establishing end-to-end L3 paths between the plurality of cloud service provider networks and the one or more customer networks, each end-to-end L3 path including one of the plurality of attachment circuits connecting the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks to the L3 autonomous system and also including one of the one or more attachment circuits connecting the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system, and wherein the L3 autonomous system is configured by the interconnection platform to forward cloud service traffic, received on the plurality of attachment circuits connecting the respective plurality of cloud service provider networks along the end-toend L3 paths, to the one or more attachment circuits connecting the respective one or more customer networks to the L3 autonomous system.