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US5539745A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for reducing the transmission of repetitive broadcast datagrams over communication links

Assignee: Hewlett Packard Development Co LP
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Filing: 1994-06-07
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Granted: 1996-07-23
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Expires: 2014-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing the flow of repetitive broadcast datagrams over a communication link between two local area networks while still maintaining reception of all of the repetitive broadcast datagrams generated and intended by one of the local area networks for transmission to the other local area network over the communication link. The reduction, which can be to zero, occurs for intermittent periods of time having various durations.

Inventors

  • 👤 Eugene Y. Chang
  • 👤 David B. Richardson
  • 👤 Bennett C. Baker

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 06:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1886; H04L12/28; H04L12/46

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 190 words
A method for reducing the flow of broadcast datagrams over a communication link, comprising: (a) providing, at a first computer network, a first list of broadcast datagrams transmitted from the first computer network to a second computer network over a communication link between the first and second networks; (b) providing a second list at the second computer network of broadcast datagrams received at the second computer network from the first computer network over the communication link, (c) comparing a broadcast datagram on the first computer network to the broadcast datagrams in the first list to determine if the compared broadcast datagram matches any of the broadcast datagrams in the first list, and (d) if the compared broadcast datagram matches any of the broadcast datagrams in the first list, (i) preventing the transmission of the compared broadcast datagram over the communication link to the second computer network, and (ii) providing the compared broadcast datagram to the second computer network as if it had been transmitted to the second computer network over the communication link by retrieving one of the broadcast datagrams from the second list which matches the compared broadcast datagram.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 190 words
A method for reducing the flow of broadcast datagrams over a communication link, comprising: (a) providing, at a first computer network, a first list of broadcast datagrams transmitted from the first computer network to a second computer network over a communication link between the first and second networks; (b) providing a second list at the second computer network of broadcast datagrams received at the second computer network from the first computer network over the communication link, (c) comparing a broadcast datagram on the first computer network to the broadcast datagrams in the first list to determine if the compared broadcast datagram matches any of the broadcast datagrams in the first list, and (d) if the compared broadcast datagram matches any of the broadcast datagrams in the first list, (i) preventing the transmission of the compared broadcast datagram over the communication link to the second computer network, and (ii) providing the compared broadcast datagram to the second computer network as if it had been transmitted to the second computer network over the communication link by retrieving one of the broadcast datagrams from the second list which matches the compared broadcast datagram.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising, if the compared broadcast datagram does not match any of the broadcast datagrams in the first list, transmitting the compared broadcast datagram to the second computer network over the communication link.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the communication link comprises a private long distance telephone line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the communication link comprises a packet switched line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the communication link comprises a circuit switched line.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 87 words
A device for reducing the flow of broadcast datagrams over a communication link, comprising: a first receiver coupled to a first computer network for receiving, identifying, and discarding repetitive broadcast datagrams on the first computer network and intended to be sent over a communication link to a remote computer network, and a transmitter coupled to the first computer network for periodically providing repetitive broadcast datagrams to the first computer network which correspond to repetitive broadcast datagrams discarded by a remote receiver coupled to the remote computer network.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 87 words
A device for reducing the flow of broadcast datagrams over a communication link, comprising: a first receiver coupled to a first computer network for receiving, identifying, and discarding repetitive broadcast datagrams on the first computer network and intended to be sent over a communication link to a remote computer network, and a transmitter coupled to the first computer network for periodically providing repetitive broadcast datagrams to the first computer network which correspond to repetitive broadcast datagrams discarded by a remote receiver coupled to the remote computer network.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 114 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the first receiver further comprises: a classifier for identifying broadcast datagrams from other types of datagrams on the first computer network, a table assembler and maintainer for assembling and maintaining a table containing broadcast datagrams sent from the first computer network over the communication link to the remote computer network, a comparer for comparing a broadcast datagram identified by the classifier with the contents of the table to determine a match, a discarder for discarding the compared broadcast datagram if a match is found, and a sender for sending the compared broadcast datagram over the communication link to the remote computer network if a match is not found.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 88 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the transmitter further comprises: a classifier for identifying broadcast datagrams from other types of datagrams received from the remote computer network over the communication link, a table assembler and maintainer for assembling and maintaining a table containing broadcast datagrams received from the remote computer network over the communication link, and a retriever for periodically retrieving broadcast datagrams from the table which correspond to broadcast datagrams discarded by the remote receiver and for providing the retrieved broadcast datagrams to the first computer network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the communication link comprises a private long distance telephone line.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the communication link comprises a packet switched line.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The device of claim 6 wherein the communication link comprises a circuit switched line.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 84 words
A method for reducing the flow of broadcast datagrams over a communication link between two computer networks, comprising: receiving, identifying, and discarding repetitive broadcast datagrams on a first computer network and intended to be sent over a communication link to a second computer network, and periodically providing repetitive broadcast datagrams to the second computer network which correspond to the discarded repetitive broadcast datagrams which were on the first computer network but discarded before being sent over the communication link to the second computer network.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 84 words
A method for reducing the flow of broadcast datagrams over a communication link between two computer networks, comprising: receiving, identifying, and discarding repetitive broadcast datagrams on a first computer network and intended to be sent over a communication link to a second computer network, and periodically providing repetitive broadcast datagrams to the second computer network which correspond to the discarded repetitive broadcast datagrams which were on the first computer network but discarded before being sent over the communication link to the second computer network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the receiving, identifying, and discarding is performed by a first bridge coupling the first computer network to the communication link, and the periodically providing is performed by a second bridge coupling the second computer network to the communication link.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 45 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the receiving, identifying, and discarding is performed by a first router coupling the first computer network to the communication link, and the periodically providing is performed by a second router coupling the second computer network to the communication link.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4868866A Cited
US4715030A Cited
US4818984A Cited
US5031174A Cited
US5081621A Cited
US5168496A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-07-23 2000-01-22 2000-07-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-07-23 2004-01-22 2004-07-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-07-23 2008-01-22 2008-07-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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