US6205147B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Virtual network architecture
Assignee: Nokia Canada Inc
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Filing: 1997-02-11
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Granted: 2001-03-20
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Expires: 2017-02-11
Abstract
Abstract A network infrastructure comprises a number of connective devices (routers, repeaters, bridges, etc.) to form a communication network for a plurality of end nodes. Message packets originating with an end node are assigned an input virtual network and workgroup identification at the port at which the packet enters the network. This assigned input virtual network and workgroup identification is compared, at each port from which the packet can exit the network infrastructure, with output virtual network and workgroup identification assigned the particular port. If the input virtual network information does not match the output virtual network information, the packet is prohibited from exiting that port. Even if there is a match between the input and output virtual network information, there must also be a match between at least one bit of the input workgroup identification and the output workgroup identification before the packet can exit the port.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian T. Mayo
- 👤 Stanley P. Sassower
- 👤 Joseph N. Horowitz
- 👤 Landis C. Rogers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 20:36
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/46; H04L12/4641; H04L12/467; H04L12/4604; H04L12/4608
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
In a data communicating network, including at least one connective device for communicating data among transmitting/receiving nodes, the connective device including: a plurality of ports coupled to respective ones of the transmitting/receiving nodes, each of the plurality of ports having a storage element for storing a virtual network input identification and a virtual network output identification, each of the plurality of ports being communicatively coupled to each of the other of the plurality of ports for communicating data therebetween; each of the ports having a compare component coupled to receive the virtual network input identification of a one of the plurality of ports at which data is received and to compare the virtual network input identification of said one port with the virtual network output identification of the each of the plurality of ports to transmit the data from such of the plurality of ports having an virtual network output identification matching the virtual network input identification of the one of the plurality of ports.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
In a data communicating network, including at least one connective device for communicating data among transmitting/receiving nodes, the connective device including: a plurality of ports coupled to respective ones of the transmitting/receiving nodes, each of the plurality of ports having a storage element for storing a virtual network input identification and a virtual network output identification, each of the plurality of ports being communicatively coupled to each of the other of the plurality of ports for communicating data therebetween; each of the ports having a compare component coupled to receive the virtual network input identification of a one of the plurality of ports at which data is received and to compare the virtual network input identification of said one port with the virtual network output identification of the each of the plurality of ports to transmit the data from such of the plurality of ports having an virtual network output identification matching the virtual network input identification of the one of the plurality of ports.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The data communicating network of claim 1 , wherein the storage element includes an input register for storing the virtual network input identification and an output register for storing the virtual network output identification.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The connective device of claim 1 , wherein the virtual network input identification and the virtual network output identification of each of the plurality of ports each includes first and second multi-bit fields.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
48 words
The connective device of claim 3 , wherein the compare component operates to transmit the data from such of the plurality of ports having a first field of an output identification matching a first field of the virtual network identification of the one of the plurality of ports.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a data communicating network that includes at least one connective device for communicating data among transmitting/receiving nodes, the connective device having a number of ports coupled to corresponding ones of the transmitting/receiving nodes to receive data from, and transmit data to, such nodes, a method of transmitting data received at one of the number of ports from selected ones of the number of ports that includes the steps of: providing each of the number of ports with a virtual network input identification and a virtual network output identification; receiving data at the one of the number of ports; communicating the received data and the virtual network input identification of the one of the number of ports to each of the number of ports; at each of the number of ports, comparing the communicated virtual network input identification with the virtual network output identification of each of the ports to transmit the data from such of the number of ports having an virtual network output identification matching the communicated virtual network input identification.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a data communicating network that includes at least one connective device for communicating data among transmitting/receiving nodes, the connective device having a number of ports coupled to corresponding ones of the transmitting/receiving nodes to receive data from, and transmit data to, such nodes, a method of transmitting data received at one of the number of ports from selected ones of the number of ports that includes the steps of: providing each of the number of ports with a virtual network input identification and a virtual network output identification; receiving data at the one of the number of ports; communicating the received data and the virtual network input identification of the one of the number of ports to each of the number of ports; at each of the number of ports, comparing the communicated virtual network input identification with the virtual network output identification of each of the ports to transmit the data from such of the number of ports having an virtual network output identification matching the communicated virtual network input identification.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the virtual network input and output identifications provided each of the number of ports each include a multi-bit field, and the comparing step includes the step of transmitting the data from such one of the ports if at least one bit of the multi-bit field of the virtual network input identification of the one of the number of ports matches a corresponding bit provided the virtual network output identification of such port.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the comparing step includes transmitting the data from each of the number of ports having an virtual network output identification having at least one bit matching a corresponding one bit of the virtual network input identification of the one of the number of ports and an n-bit field of the virtual network output identification matching a corresponding n-bit field of the virtual network input identification of the one of the number of ports.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the comparing step includes the step of comparing the virtual network output information provided each of the plurality of ports with the virtual network input information of the one of the number of ports to transmit the data if at least portions match.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of providing includes providing each of the number of ports with a virtual network input identification having first and second multi-bit fields and a virtual network output identification having third and fourth multi-bit fields.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the comparing step includes the step of transmitting the data from such of the number of ports having a virtual network output identification with a third field matching the first field of the communicated virtual network input identification.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
56 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the comparing step includes the step of transmitting the data from such of the number of ports having a virtual network output identification with a fourth field having at least one bit position matching a corresponding bit position of the first field of the communicated virtual network input identification.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
162 words
A connective device for communicating data among a number of transmitting/receiving nodes in a data communicating network, the connective device including: a plurality of ports coupled to respective ones of the number transmitting/receiving nodes, each of the plurality of ports being communicatively coupled to each of the other of the plurality of ports for communicating data therebetween; each of the plurality of ports including, a storage element for storing a virtual network input identification and an output identification, a compare component coupled to receive the virtual network input identification of one of the plurality of ports at which data is received and to assert a selection signal if at least a first portion of the virtual network input identification of the one of the plurality of ports matches a corresponding portion of the virtual network output identification of such ports, and a selection component coupled to the compare component to transmit the data from such port when the selection signal is asserted.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A connective device for communicating data among a number of transmitting/receiving nodes in a data communicating network, the connective device including: a plurality of ports coupled to respective ones of the number transmitting/receiving nodes, each of the plurality of ports being communicatively coupled to each of the other of the plurality of ports for communicating data therebetween; each of the plurality of ports including, a storage element for storing a virtual network input identification and an output identification, a compare component coupled to receive the virtual network input identification of one of the plurality of ports at which data is received and to assert a selection signal if at least a first portion of the virtual network input identification of the one of the plurality of ports matches a corresponding portion of the virtual network output identification of such ports, and a selection component coupled to the compare component to transmit the data from such port when the selection signal is asserted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The connective device of claim 12 , wherein the compare component asserts the selection signal if the virtual network input identification includes a second portion also having at least one bit position set to match a corresponding bit position of a second portion of the virtual network output identification of such port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
A connective device for communicating data among a number of transmitting/receiving nodes in a data communicating network, the connective device including: a plurality of ports coupled to respective ones of the number transmitting/receiving nodes, each of the plurality of ports being communicatively coupled to each of the other of the plurality of ports for communicating data therebetween; each of the plurality of ports including a storage element for storing a virtual network input identification having first and second multi-bit fields and a virtual network output identification having third and fourth multi-bit fields, a compare element operating to receive and compare the first multi-bit field of the virtual network input identification of a one of the plurality of ports at which data is received with the third multi-bit field of the virtual network output identification of such port, and a selection element coupled to the compare component to select for transmission the data from the one of the plurality of ports having a first multi-bit field matching the third multi-bit field of such port.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
173 words
A connective device for communicating data among a number of transmitting/receiving nodes in a data communicating network, the connective device including: a plurality of ports coupled to respective ones of the number transmitting/receiving nodes, each of the plurality of ports being communicatively coupled to each of the other of the plurality of ports for communicating data therebetween; each of the plurality of ports including a storage element for storing a virtual network input identification having first and second multi-bit fields and a virtual network output identification having third and fourth multi-bit fields, a compare element operating to receive and compare the first multi-bit field of the virtual network input identification of a one of the plurality of ports at which data is received with the third multi-bit field of the virtual network output identification of such port, and a selection element coupled to the compare component to select for transmission the data from the one of the plurality of ports having a first multi-bit field matching the third multi-bit field of such port.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The connective device of claim 14 , wherein the storage element comprises an input storage register for holding the virtual network input identification and output register for holding the virtual network output identification.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
49 words
The connective device of claim 15 , wherein the input register includes first and second registers for respectively holding the first and second fields of the virtual network input identification and third and fourth registers for respectively holding the third and fourth fields of the virtual output network identification.
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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) | 2004-03-19 | 2004-09-18 | 2005-03-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-03-19 | 2008-09-18 | 2009-03-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-03-19 | 2012-09-18 | 2013-03-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |