EP0426599A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of clustering nodes in a distributed computer network
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1990-10-09
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A method of clustering nodes in a distributed computer network to reduce the overall processing and storage requirements at the network nodes. The network is partitioned into subsets (25, 75) with one node (10, 100) in each cluster designated as the cluster control point. The cluster control point represents the cluster as a single node (25 or 75) to the external part of the network. It maintains an internal topology database of network resources within the cluster and an external topology database of network resources outside the cluster for use in determining routes for sessions throughout the distributed network. The cluster control point (10, 100) is the focal point in assisting the external part of the network to locate network resources internal to the cluster and in assisting the internal nodes to locate network resources external to the cluster. Internal resources found as a result of a search are maintained in an internal directory cache at the cluster control point, and external resources found are maintained in an external directory cache.
Inventors
- 👤 Zvonimir Ordanic
- 👤 John Lawrence Eisenbies
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/104; H04L41/00; H04L41/08; H04L41/0893; H04L41/12; H04L67/1059; H04L67/1061; H04L67/1063; H04L67/1065; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04L67/1044; H04L67/1053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of clustering nodes for reducing the processing and storage requirements at the network nodes in a distributed computer network, said method being characterized by the steps of: grouping selected nodes into at least one node cluster based on predefined criteria, designating one node internal to the cluster as the cluster control point, maintaining an internal topology database at each node within said cluster that identifies all nodes internal to the cluster, the internal transmission groups between pairs of nodes in the cluster, and the external transmission groups between edge nodes within the cluster and adjacent nodes external to the cluster, maintaining an external topology database at the cluster control point at each external node that identifies all external nodes and the external transmission groups both between pairs of external nodes and between said cluster control point and adjacent nodes external to the cluster, establishing internal control sessions between the control points of adjacent internal nodes within said cluster, and establishing external control sessions between said cluster control point and the control point of each adjacent node external to the cluster.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of clustering nodes for reducing the processing and storage requirements at the network nodes in a distributed computer network, said method being characterized by the steps of: grouping selected nodes into at least one node cluster based on predefined criteria, designating one node internal to the cluster as the cluster control point, maintaining an internal topology database at each node within said cluster that identifies all nodes internal to the cluster, the internal transmission groups between pairs of nodes in the cluster, and the external transmission groups between edge nodes within the cluster and adjacent nodes external to the cluster, maintaining an external topology database at the cluster control point at each external node that identifies all external nodes and the external transmission groups both between pairs of external nodes and between said cluster control point and adjacent nodes external to the cluster, establishing internal control sessions between the control points of adjacent internal nodes within said cluster, and establishing external control sessions between said cluster control point and the control point of each adjacent node external to the cluster.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said cluster control point assists the part of the network external to the cluster in locating resources within said cluster and assists the internal nodes in locating resources external to said cluster.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 or 2 including the steps of activating internal transmission groups between pairs of internal nodes by exchanging identification messages between said internal nodes and negotiating a unique number for each of said internal transmission groups.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1, 2 or 3 including the steps of activating external transmission groups between edge nodes within the cluster and adjacent nodes external to the cluster by first determining from the internal topology database that the designated cluster control point is active, followed by each edge node and adjacent external node pair exchanging identification messages and negotiating a unique external transmission group number.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
31 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 4 further including the steps of maintaining an internal directory cache and maintaining an external directory cache at the cluster control point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of maintaining an internal directory cache includes recording the finding of resources within the cluster that were the objects of searches that were initiated by said cluster control point.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 or 6 wherein the step of maintaining an external directory cache includes recording the finding of resources external to the cluster that were the objects of searches that were initiated by said cluster control point.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
61 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the step of maintaining an internal topology database at each node within the cluster includes the steps of broadcasting topology database update (TDU) messages from nodes internal to the cluster, receiving said TDU messages and updating the contents of the internal topology database at each node internal to said cluster.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
87 words
The method of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the step of maintaining an external topology database at the cluster control point includes receiving topology database update (TDU) messages from edge nodes within the cluster, determining if the TDU message was sent to update the status of an external transmission group, and updating the contents of the external topology database and broadcasting the TDU message to each adjacent node external to the cluster if said TDU message updated the status of an external transmission group.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 9 further including the steps of receiving TDU messages from nodes external to the cluster and updating the contents of the external topology database at the cluster control point.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
211 words
A system for reducing the processing and storage requirements at the network nodes in a distributed computer network that has been partitioned into a plurality of clusters of arbitrary size based on a predetermined selection criteria with one node internal to each cluster functioning as the cluster control point for communication with the part of the network external to the cluster, said system being characterized in that it comprises : internal topology database means at each node within the cluster for identifying all nodes internal to the cluster, the internal transmission groups between pairs of nodes in the cluster, and the external transmission groups between edge nodes within the cluster and adjacent nodes external to the cluster, external topology database means at the cluster control point and at each external node for identifying all external nodes and the external transmission groups between pairs of said external nodes and between said cluster control point and the adjacent nodes external to the cluster, means for establishing internal control sessions between the control points of adjacent internal nodes within the cluster, means for establishing external control sessions between the cluster control point and the control point of each adjacent node external to the cluster, and means for locating resources within said distributed computer network.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
211 words
A system for reducing the processing and storage requirements at the network nodes in a distributed computer network that has been partitioned into a plurality of clusters of arbitrary size based on a predetermined selection criteria with one node internal to each cluster functioning as the cluster control point for communication with the part of the network external to the cluster, said system being characterized in that it comprises : internal topology database means at each node within the cluster for identifying all nodes internal to the cluster, the internal transmission groups between pairs of nodes in the cluster, and the external transmission groups between edge nodes within the cluster and adjacent nodes external to the cluster, external topology database means at the cluster control point and at each external node for identifying all external nodes and the external transmission groups between pairs of said external nodes and between said cluster control point and the adjacent nodes external to the cluster, means for establishing internal control sessions between the control points of adjacent internal nodes within the cluster, means for establishing external control sessions between the cluster control point and the control point of each adjacent node external to the cluster, and means for locating resources within said distributed computer network.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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