US5684796A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for determining and maintaining agent topology information in a multi-segment network
Assignee: Avaya Holdings Ltd
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Filing: 1994-11-23
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Granted: 1997-11-04
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Expires: 2014-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A multi-segment agent topology mechanism for use by multi-segment network devices in an Ethernet network. Topology information packets exchanged between topology agents in a network include segment identifier information as well as IP address of the sending agent. A device's topology agent maintains and updates topology information in topology tables which identifies interconnected network devices, such as concentrators and bridges, by IP address and segment identifier information as well as incoming slot and port information for eventual use by a network management system in evaluating a networks topology map, and in automatically determining changes in the network's topology.
Inventors
- 👤 Vasmi Abidi
- 👤 Paul Woodruff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L41/00; H04L41/04; H04L41/046; H04L41/12; H04L41/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of broadcasting topology information from a network management module of a network device, the network device supporting a first network segment and a second network segment and having a network address, said method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting a first topology information packet from said network management unit over said first network segment, said first topology information packet including said network address identifying said network device and a first segment identifier identifying said first network segment; and (b) transmitting a second topology information packet from said network management unit over said second network segment, said second topology information packet including said network address identifying said network device and a second segment identifier identifying said second network segment.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of broadcasting topology information from a network management module of a network device, the network device supporting a first network segment and a second network segment and having a network address, said method comprising the steps of: (a) transmitting a first topology information packet from said network management unit over said first network segment, said first topology information packet including said network address identifying said network device and a first segment identifier identifying said first network segment; and (b) transmitting a second topology information packet from said network management unit over said second network segment, said second topology information packet including said network address identifying said network device and a second segment identifier identifying said second network segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first network segment is of a first segment type and said second network segment is of a second segment type, said first segment type being different from said second segment type, said method comprising the step of including information identifying said first segment type in said first segment identifier.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 comprising the step of including information identifying said second segment type in said second segment identifier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first or said second information topology information packets comprises a flatnet hello data packet, and said method includes the step of transmitting a segment hello data packet following said flatnet hello data packet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 including the steps of: forwarding said flatnet hello data packet over a bridge within a network; and dropping said segment hello data packet at said bridge within said network.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the steps of: updating said first and second topology information packets to reflect network topology changes, if said network topology changes have occurred; and periodically repeating steps (a) and (b).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said updating step comprises including a topology state variable in said first and second topology information packets, the value of said topology state variable being maintained by said network device to reflect changes in network topology.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of periodically repeating steps (a) and (b) comprises the step of periodically connecting and disconnecting said network management module to each of said first and second network segments via a topology transmit channel associated with said network device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said step of periodically repeating steps (a) and (b) comprises the steps of: specifying said first network segment for transmission of said first topology information packet; and then specifying said second network segment for transmission of said second topology information packet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said network device includes a further network management module, said method including the steps of: determining whether a predetermined condition with respect to said further network management module is met; and performing steps (a) and (b) when said predetermined condition is not met.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of determining whether a predetermined condition is met comprises determining whether said further network management module is actively performing steps (a) and (b).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 10 wherein said step of determining whether a predetermined condition is met comprises determining whether said further network management module is capable of performing steps (a) and (b), and whether said further network management module is located in a higher numbered slot of said network device than said network management module.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of maintaining a topology information table in a primary network device in a multi-segment network, said primary network device supporting at least one network segment, said multi-segment network including a secondary network device, and said secondary network device supporting a plurality of network segments, the method comprising the of: (a) monitoring said at least one network segment for a topology information packet from said secondary network device; (b) receiving said topology information packet at said primary network device, said topology information packet identifying said secondary network device and one of said plurality of network segments over which said topology information packet was transmitted; and (c) maintaining said topology information table in accordance with said topology information packet to identify said secondary network device from which said topology information packet was received, and to identify said one of said plurality of network segments over which said topology information packet was transmitted.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of maintaining a topology information table in a primary network device in a multi-segment network, said primary network device supporting at least one network segment, said multi-segment network including a secondary network device, and said secondary network device supporting a plurality of network segments, the method comprising the of: (a) monitoring said at least one network segment for a topology information packet from said secondary network device; (b) receiving said topology information packet at said primary network device, said topology information packet identifying said secondary network device and one of said plurality of network segments over which said topology information packet was transmitted; and (c) maintaining said topology information table in accordance with said topology information packet to identify said secondary network device from which said topology information packet was received, and to identify said one of said plurality of network segments over which said topology information packet was transmitted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said primary network device has a plurality of slots, each slot having a plurality of ports through which said topology information packet is receivable at said primary network device, the method including the step of maintaining said topology information table to identify one of said plurality of slots and one of said plurality of ports through which said topology information packet was received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said multi-segment network includes at least one bridge, the method including the step of maintaining separate topology information tables for said secondary network device and for said at least one bridge.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 including the step of maintaining a topology change state variable which indicates whether network topology associated with said primary network device has changed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 16 including the steps of: setting said topology change state variable from an initial value to a value indicative of a change in network topology when said topology information table is modified; and reverting said topology state variable to said initial value after a predetermined period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 13 including the steps of: maintaining a last change time variable; updating said last change time variable when entries are added to or deleted from said topology information table; and updating said last change time variable when said topology information packet includes a topology change state variable indicating that said secondary network device has detected a network topology change.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
121 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said primary network device supports a further network segment, the method including the additional steps of: (a) monitoring said further network segment for a topology information packet from said secondary network device; (b) receiving said topology information packet at said primary network device, said topology information packet identifying said secondary network device and one of said plurality of network segments over which said topology information packet was transmitted; and (c) maintaining said topology information table in accordance with said topology information packet to identify said secondary network device from which said topology information packet was received, and to identify said one of said plurality of network segments over which said topology information packet was transmitted.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of monitoring topology information utilizing a primary network device in a multi-segment network, said primary network device having a network management module and supporting first and second network segments, and said multi-segment network including a secondary network device having a network address, the method comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring said first network segment for a first topology information packet from said secondary network device, said first topology information packet including said network address identifying said secondary network device and a network identifier identifying a network segment supported by said secondary network device; (b) monitoring said second network segment for a second topology information packet from said secondary network device, said second topology information packet including a network address identifying said secondary network device and a further network identifier identifying a network segment supported by said secondary device; and (c) maintaining a topology information table in accordance with the first topology information packet to identify said secondary network device and the network segment over which the first topology information packet was received by the primary network device from the secondary network device.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of monitoring topology information utilizing a primary network device in a multi-segment network, said primary network device having a network management module and supporting first and second network segments, and said multi-segment network including a secondary network device having a network address, the method comprising the steps of: (a) monitoring said first network segment for a first topology information packet from said secondary network device, said first topology information packet including said network address identifying said secondary network device and a network identifier identifying a network segment supported by said secondary network device; (b) monitoring said second network segment for a second topology information packet from said secondary network device, said second topology information packet including a network address identifying said secondary network device and a further network identifier identifying a network segment supported by said secondary device; and (c) maintaining a topology information table in accordance with the first topology information packet to identify said secondary network device and the network segment over which the first topology information packet was received by the primary network device from the secondary network device.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 20 including the step of periodically repeating steps (a) and (b).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the step of periodically repeating steps (a) and (b) comprises the step of periodically connecting and disconnecting said network management module to each of said first and second network segments via a receive channel associated with said primary network device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20 including the step of simultaneously monitoring said first and second network segments.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
163 words
A network management module for use in a network device within a multi-segment network, said network device supporting a first network segment and a second network segment, and said multi-segment network including a remote network device, the network management module comprising: (a) a transmit unit arranged periodically to transmit: a first topology information packet over said first network segment, said first topology information packet identifying said network device and said first network segment; and a second topology information packet over said second network segment, said second topology information packet identifying said network device and said second network segment; (b) a receive unit arranged to monitor said first and second network segments for a remote topology information packet transmitted by said remote network device, and to receive said remote topology information packet transmitted from said remote network device; and (c) a data storage device arranged to maintain topology information tables in accordance with said remote topology information packet received from said remote network device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
163 words
A network management module for use in a network device within a multi-segment network, said network device supporting a first network segment and a second network segment, and said multi-segment network including a remote network device, the network management module comprising: (a) a transmit unit arranged periodically to transmit: a first topology information packet over said first network segment, said first topology information packet identifying said network device and said first network segment; and a second topology information packet over said second network segment, said second topology information packet identifying said network device and said second network segment; (b) a receive unit arranged to monitor said first and second network segments for a remote topology information packet transmitted by said remote network device, and to receive said remote topology information packet transmitted from said remote network device; and (c) a data storage device arranged to maintain topology information tables in accordance with said remote topology information packet received from said remote network device.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
The network management module of claim 24 including a plurality of slots, each slot having a plurality of ports over which said remote topology information packet is receivable, said topology information tables including information identifying through which slot and port said remote topology information packet was received.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The network management module of claim 24 wherein said network management module maintains topology state information for identifying network topology changes.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-11-03 | 2001-05-05 | 2001-11-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-11-03 | 2005-05-05 | 2005-11-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-11-03 | 2009-05-05 | 2009-11-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |