Patent US5796736A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5796736A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
ATM network topology auto discovery method
Assignee: Juniper Networks Inc
•
Filing: 1995-07-17
•
Granted: 1998-08-18
•
Expires: 2015-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A network topology discovery method automatically recognizes the physical connection relationships of each ATM switch and each ATM terminal within an ATM network. Each ATM switch and ATM terminal mutually exchanges, by ILMI protocol, port identifiers that identify every ATM port of the ATM switch or ATM terminal as well as network addresses of network management agents that manage the ATM switch and the ATM terminal, to neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals that are directly connected to its ports. Each ATM switch and ATM terminal stores tables for each of its ATM ports that include port identifiers which indicate the identities of connected ports as well as the network addresses of the network management agents that manage the neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals. The ATM switches or ATM terminals automatically recognize the local connection relationships with its neighboring ATM switches or ATM terminals, using a network management system, by accessing connection information and then automatically recognizing the physical connection relationships of each ATM switch and each ATM terminal. The network management system recognizes the configuration within an ATM network, whether the network management system is inside or outside the ATM network, including when a router or existing LAN coexists with the ATM network. The identities of ports connected to each port are recognized, when a plurality of links exist between ATM switches, without requiring the assignment of a respective one of its ATM network management agents to each ATM switch. Interfaces between ATM switches as well as between an ATM switch and an ATM terminal are also automatically identified.
Inventors
- 👤 Hiroshi Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 06:13
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L41/00; H04L41/02; H04L41/0213; H04L41/12; H04L41/32; H04L45/00; H04L45/02; H04L45/42; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5619; H04L2012/5625; H04L2012/5626; H04L41/08; H04L41/085; H04L41/0853
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of determining an ATM network topology in an ATM network by which a plurality of ATM switches and a plurality of ATM terminals are interconnected, each of said ATM terminals having at least one respective port and each of said ATM switches having a respective plurality of ports through which each of said ATM switches and ATM terminals is directly connected to its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; said method comprising the steps of: storing, in each respective one of said ATM switches and ATM terminals, a respective switch identifier that indicates whether said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal is an ATM switch; exchanging said respective switch identifier between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; determining, for each respective port of said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, whether a network node interface for connecting two neighboring ATM switches is present or whether a user-network interface for connecting an ATM switch and an ATM terminal is present using said exchanged switch identifiers; and automatically setting a data communications protocol format that corresponds to said determined interface and which identifies said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method of determining an ATM network topology in an ATM network by which a plurality of ATM switches and a plurality of ATM terminals are interconnected, each of said ATM terminals having at least one respective port and each of said ATM switches having a respective plurality of ports through which each of said ATM switches and ATM terminals is directly connected to its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; said method comprising the steps of: storing, in each respective one of said ATM switches and ATM terminals, a respective switch identifier that indicates whether said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal is an ATM switch; exchanging said respective switch identifier between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; determining, for each respective port of said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, whether a network node interface for connecting two neighboring ATM switches is present or whether a user-network interface for connecting an ATM switch and an ATM terminal is present using said exchanged switch identifiers; and automatically setting a data communications protocol format that corresponds to said determined interface and which identifies said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing a network address, a port identifier and said respective switch identifier as a respective management information base for each said respective port of said each ATM switch or ATM terminal, and exchanging said respective management information base with those of said neighboring ATM switches or ATM terminals concurrent with said step of exchanging said respective switch identifier.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
334 words
A method of determining an ATM network topology in an ATM network by which a plurality of ATM switches and a plurality of ATM terminals are interconnected, each of said ATM terminals having at least one respective port and each of said ATM switches having a respective plurality of ports through which each of said ATM switches and ATM terminals is directly connected to its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; said method comprising the steps of: storing, in each respective one of said ATM switches and ATM terminals, a respective network address of a network management agent that manages said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal; exchanging said respective network address between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; storing, in said each respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, a table that includes, for each said respective port of said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, the network addresses of the network agents that manage said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals that is connected to said each port; determining, using a network management system, the connection relationships been each of said ATM switches and ATM terminals by determining the network address of the network management agent that manages a selected one of said ATM switches and ATM terminals, reading out said table stored in said selected ATM switch or ATM terminal to determine the network addresses of the network management agents that manage its corresponding neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals, accessing each of said network management agents of said corresponding neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals to determine further ATM switches and ATM terminals managed by said each network management agent, and repeatedly reading out the respective tables stored in said further ATM switches and ATM terminals, determining the network addresses stored therein and determining still further ATM switches and ATM terminals until all said connection relationships of each of said plurality of said ATM switches and ATM terminals are determined.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
334 words
A method of determining an ATM network topology in an ATM network by which a plurality of ATM switches and a plurality of ATM terminals are interconnected, each of said ATM terminals having at least one respective port and each of said ATM switches having a respective plurality of ports through which each of said ATM switches and ATM terminals is directly connected to its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; said method comprising the steps of: storing, in each respective one of said ATM switches and ATM terminals, a respective network address of a network management agent that manages said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal; exchanging said respective network address between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; storing, in said each respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, a table that includes, for each said respective port of said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, the network addresses of the network agents that manage said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals that is connected to said each port; determining, using a network management system, the connection relationships been each of said ATM switches and ATM terminals by determining the network address of the network management agent that manages a selected one of said ATM switches and ATM terminals, reading out said table stored in said selected ATM switch or ATM terminal to determine the network addresses of the network management agents that manage its corresponding neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals, accessing each of said network management agents of said corresponding neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals to determine further ATM switches and ATM terminals managed by said each network management agent, and repeatedly reading out the respective tables stored in said further ATM switches and ATM terminals, determining the network addresses stored therein and determining still further ATM switches and ATM terminals until all said connection relationships of each of said plurality of said ATM switches and ATM terminals are determined.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 3, wherein, when at least one of said network management agents manages at least two of said plurality of ATM switches and ATM terminals, said table includes said network addresses of said network management agents that manage each of said neighboring ATM terminals and ATM switches of each of said at least two ATM terminals and ATM switches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
88 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of storing said network addresses, a port identifier and a plurality of switch identifiers as a respective management information base for each said respective port of said each ATM switch or ATM terminal, and exchanging said respective management information bases with those of said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals concurrent with said step of exchanging said respective network address between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of its neighboring ATM switches and said ATM terminals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of storing said network addresses, a port identifier and a plurality of switch identifiers as a respective management information base for each said respective port of said each ATM switch or ATM terminal, and exchanging said respective management information bases with those of said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals concurrent with said step of exchanging said respective network address between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of determining an ATM network topology in an ATM network by which a plurality of ATM switches and a plurality of ATM terminals are interconnected, each of said ATM terminals having at least one respective port and each of said ATM switches having a respective plurality of ports through which each of said ATM switches and ATM terminals is directly connected to its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; said method comprising the steps of: storing, in each respective one of said ATM switches and ATM terminals, at least one respective port identifier that identifies each of said respective ports of said ATM switch or ATM terminal; exchanging said respective port identifier between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; storing, in said each respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, a table that includes, for each respective port of said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, said port identifier of said neighboring ATM switch and ATM terminal that is connected to said each respective port; and automatically recognizing, using a network management system, the respective ports of said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals by accessing said table, thereby determining the physical connection relationships of said ATM network.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of determining an ATM network topology in an ATM network by which a plurality of ATM switches and a plurality of ATM terminals are interconnected, each of said ATM terminals having at least one respective port and each of said ATM switches having a respective plurality of ports through which each of said ATM switches and ATM terminals is directly connected to its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; said method comprising the steps of: storing, in each respective one of said ATM switches and ATM terminals, at least one respective port identifier that identifies each of said respective ports of said ATM switch or ATM terminal; exchanging said respective port identifier between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; storing, in said each respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, a table that includes, for each respective port of said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, said port identifier of said neighboring ATM switch and ATM terminal that is connected to said each respective port; and automatically recognizing, using a network management system, the respective ports of said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals by accessing said table, thereby determining the physical connection relationships of said ATM network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
164 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of storing, in said each respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, a respective network address of a network management agent that manages said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal; exchanging said respective network address between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal with those of said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals; and storing, in said each respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, a further table that includes, for each said respective port of said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, the network addresses of the network agents that manage said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals wherein, when at least one of said network management agents manages at least two of said plurality of ATM switches and ATM terminals, said further table includes said network addresses of said network management agents that manage each of said neighboring ATM terminals and ATM switches of each of said at least two ATM terminals and ATM switches.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of storing a network address, said port identifiers and said switch identifiers as a respective management information base for said each respective port of each said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, and exchanging said respective management information base with those of said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals concurrent with said step of exchanging said respective network address between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal and its neighboring ATM switches with those of said ATM terminals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising the steps of storing a network address, said port identifiers and a plurality of switch identifiers as a respective management information base for said each respective port of each said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal, and exchanging said respective management information base with those of said neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals concurrent with said step of exchanging said respective port identifier between said respective ATM switch or ATM terminal and its neighboring ATM switches and ATM terminals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-17 | 2002-02-16 | 2002-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-17 | 2006-02-16 | 2006-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-17 | 2010-02-16 | 2010-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |