EP0648034A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communication network and computer network server and interface modules used therein
Assignee: Nokia Bell NV
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Filing: 1993-09-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2013-09-08
Abstract
Abstract A communication network (VCN) offering an ETHERNET service to a plurality of local terminals (ELT1, ELTN, TLT1, TLTN1-8), typically computers, is proposed. Flexibility and cost are enhanced with respect to existing ETHERNET networks by emulating an ETHERNET network towards the local terminals whilst pooling complex functions in a computer network server (LANS) connected to the backbone ATM netork (BB). This is achieved by coupling the local terminals, preferably separately, to standard ETHERNET links (ELN, TL1, TLN1-8) and by terminating these links in interface modules (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN) converting the ETHERNET frames from the local terminals in ATM packets destined for the central server which stores these packets in an input buffer (IB1-X) and performs the above complex functions, particularly also the transmission of these packets to appropriate ones of the interface modules. Buffer overflow is avoided by transmitting backpressure signals (BP1-X) to the interface modules so as to control them to halt transmission on the computer links. The present invention is particularly well suited for early deployment of ATM networks as their inherent high bitrate transmission capability is used to provide ETHERNET type services at a lower cost per terminal whilst employing standard access technology.
Inventors
- 👤 Robertus Josephus Van Engelshoven
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:40
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L47/00; H04L47/10; H04L47/26; H04L47/266; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2852; H04L12/46; H04L12/4604; H04L12/4608; H04L47/13; H04L47/135; H04L47/30; H04L49/00; H04L49/15; H04L49/1553; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5629; H04L2012/563; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/564
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
Communication network including a plurality of computer network links (EL1, ELN, TL1, TLN1-8) each coupled to at least one local terminal (ELT1, ELTN, TLT1, TLTN1-8) accessing said link according to a standard media access protocol, characterized in that it also includes a plurality of interface modules (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN) connected to said computer network links (EL1, ELN, TL1, TLN1-8) and to a computer network server (LANS) via a backbone network (BB), data being exchanged between said terminals (ELT1, ELTN, TLT1, TLTN1-8) and said server via said interface modules and said server storing data from said terminals in an input buffer (IB1-X), transmitting data to said terminals via said interface modules and transmitting backpressure signals (BP1-X) to inhibiting means included in said interface modules so as to control the filling level (FL1-X) of said buffer, said inhibiting means thereto halting transmission on said links in a way dependent upon said standard media access protocol.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
Communication network according to claim 1, characterized in that data is transmitted over said backbone network (BB) according to the asynchronous transfer mode principle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
Communication network according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of distinct standard media access protocols are used for exchanging data between said local terminals (ELT1, ELTN, TLT1, TLTN1-8) and said computer network links (EL1, ELN, TL1, TLN1-8).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
82 words
Computer network server (LANS) adapted for use in a communication network as in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it includes at least one server module (SM1-X) which includes a said input buffer (IB1-X) buffering data input to said server (LANS) by said interface modules (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN), an address filter (DAF1-X) deriving from said data the identities of appropriate ones of said interface modules and transmission means (TM1-X) transmitting said data to said appropriate interface modules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
Computer network server (LANS) according to claim 4, characterized in that said at least one server module (SM1-X) further includes flow control means (FCM1-X) monitoring the filling level (FL1-X) of said input buffer (IB1-X) and sending said backpressure signals (BP1-X) if said filling level exceeds a predetermined threshold value.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
Computer network server (LANS) according to claim 5, characterized in that said flow control means (FCM1-X) sends said backpressure signals (BP1-X) to selected ones of said interface modules (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN) only.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
85 words
Computer network server (LANS) according to claim 4, characterized in that said transmission means (TM1-X) includes a data memory in which said data is stored prior to transmission to a said interface module and from which said data is removed only after a data acknowledge signal indicating succesfull transmission of said data on said computer network links (EL1, ELN, TL1, TLN1-8) is received from said interface modules (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN), said transmission means periodically retransmitting said data until said data acknowledge signal is received.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
Computer network server (LANS) according to claim 4, characterized in that it further includes a bridge module (BM) to handle local-to-remote (NLD1-X) and remote-to-local (RDP) data destined for and received from remote terminals (RT1-Q) not connected to any of said interface modules (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN) respectively, said local-to-remote data being forwarded to said bridge module by said address filter (DAF1-X) to be further forwarded, after extraction of the identity of a destination remote terminal, to an associated backbone network address and said remote-to-local data being directly supplied to said computer network server (LANS) via said bridge module and being converted thereby for storage in said input buffer (IB1-X).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
131 words
Computer network server (LANS) according to any of the claims 4 to 8, characterized in that it includes a plurality of said server modules (SM1-X) as well as input switch means (IS) having an input (LDP) coupled to the input (LDP) of said server (LANS) and a plurality of outputs (O1-X) each coupled to one of said server modules, data supplied to the input of said server by said interface modules (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN) being routed by said input switch means to a selected one of said server modules dependent on the identity of said interface module sending said data, said interface modules thereby being divided by said input switch means into a plurality of collision domains each of which is served by a distinct one of said server modules.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Computer network server (LANS) according to claim 9, characterized in that said collision domains and said associated server modules (SM1-X) are defined in a configuration table included in said input switch means (IS), said server including reconfiguration means adapted to change said table.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Computer network server (LANS) according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that said bridge module (BM) routes said remote-to-local data to the said input buffer (IB1-X) associated to the said collision domain in which a destination local terminal said local-to-remote data is included.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
Computer network server (LANS) according to claim 8 and 9, characterized in that said address filter (DAF1-X) also forwards data for a destination local terminal not included in said associated collision domain to said bridge module (BM), said bridge module routing the latter data to the said input buffer (IB1-X) associated to the said collision domain in which said destination local terminal is included.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
116 words
Interface module (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN) adapted for use in a communication network as in any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises format conversion means for converting data from a format used by said computer network link (EL1, ELN, TL1, TLN1-8) connected thereto, to a format used by said backbone network (BB) and vice versa, said inhibiting means inhibiting transmission on said computer network link in response to said backpressure signals (BP1-X) and in a way dependent upon said media access protocol, and data acknowledge means for transmitting a data acknowledge signal to said computer network server (LANS) pursuant to correct transmission of data received therefrom on said computer network link.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
Interface module (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN) according to claim 13, characterized in that said media access protocol used on said computer network link (EL1, ELN, TL1, TLN1-8) is the ETHERNET protocol, said inhibiting means converting said backpressure signals into dummy frames with Ethernet adresses different from the addresses of the local terminals (ELT1, ELTN, TLT1, TLTN1-8) coupled to said interface module.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
Interface module (EIM1, EIMN, TIM1, TIMN) according to claim 13, characterized in that said media access protocol used on said computer network link (EL1, ELN, TL1, TLN1-8) is the TOKEN RING protocol, said inhibiting means converting said backpressure signals by withholding a token from said local terminals (ELT1, ELTN, TLT1, TLTN1-8) connected thereto.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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