US6262976B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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System and method for network flow optimization using traffic classes
Assignee: Ordered Networks Inc
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Filing: 1999-09-17
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Granted: 2001-07-17
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Expires: 2019-09-17
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed are methods of routing traffic through a network with a plurality of nodes which comprises classifying network traffic into a plurality of classes, including interior, interior-to-exterior, exterior-to-interior, and transitory. At each node of the network, a packet, designated as belonging to a traffic class and including a source node address and a destination node address, is received. The packet is indexed into the node's packet switch matrix using the traffic class designation, source node address, and destination node address to obtain a node link number for forwarding the packet. Then, the packet is forwarded upon a link indicated by the node link number.
Inventors
- 👤 Tod W. McNamara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 17:33
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L45/00; H04L45/02; H04L45/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
In a network including a plurality of switches, hosts and links connecting said switches and hosts into a topology, a method of ordering said network comprising: dividing said switches into two classes, interior and exterior, wherein said interior class switches only have links to other switches and hosts within said network, and exterior class switches have at least one link to other networks or entities outside of said network; within said interior class, determining a central switch within said interior class, said central switch determined by having the most links to other interior switches; determining an ordering of all switches in said interior class, based on number of links to other interior switches, starting from said determined central switch; determining an ordering of all switches in said exterior class, based on number of links to interior switches; starting from 1 greater than the number of interior class switches; for each switch, ordering all links connected to that switch by said ordering of said interior and exterior class switches, wherein a link to a switch with a lower ordering number will precede a link to a switch with a higher ordering number; and numbering said ordered links from 1 up to total number of links connected to that switch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
208 words
In a network including a plurality of switches, hosts and links connecting said switches and hosts into a topology, a method of ordering said network comprising: dividing said switches into two classes, interior and exterior, wherein said interior class switches only have links to other switches and hosts within said network, and exterior class switches have at least one link to other networks or entities outside of said network; within said interior class, determining a central switch within said interior class, said central switch determined by having the most links to other interior switches; determining an ordering of all switches in said interior class, based on number of links to other interior switches, starting from said determined central switch; determining an ordering of all switches in said exterior class, based on number of links to interior switches; starting from 1 greater than the number of interior class switches; for each switch, ordering all links connected to that switch by said ordering of said interior and exterior class switches, wherein a link to a switch with a lower ordering number will precede a link to a switch with a higher ordering number; and numbering said ordered links from 1 up to total number of links connected to that switch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein traffic on said ordered network is routed on a link of a switch based on said numbering of links out of said switch, and a classification of said traffic.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 2 wherein traffic on said ordered network is divided into one of a plurality of classes, including interior traffic, interior-to-exterior, exterior-to-interior, and transitory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 wherein traffic in said ordered network that is classified as interior traffic will be routed out of said switch links with a low link number.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
30 words
The method of claim wherein traffic in said ordered network that is classified as transitory traffic will be routed out of said switch on links with a highest link number.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
26 words
The method of claim wherein said method is performed by one switch in said network, and said resulting link numbering for each switch in said network.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of routing traffic through a network having a plurality of nodes, comprising: classifying network traffic into a plurality of classes, including interior, interior-to-exterior, exterior-to-interior, and transitory; at each node in said network, upon receiving a packet designated as belonging to a traffic class and including a source node address and a destination node address, indexing into said node's packet switch matrix using said traffic class designation, source node address, and destination node address to obtain a node link number for forwarding said packet; and forwarding said packet upon a link indicated by said node link number.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
98 words
A method of routing traffic through a network having a plurality of nodes, comprising: classifying network traffic into a plurality of classes, including interior, interior-to-exterior, exterior-to-interior, and transitory; at each node in said network, upon receiving a packet designated as belonging to a traffic class and including a source node address and a destination node address, indexing into said node's packet switch matrix using said traffic class designation, source node address, and destination node address to obtain a node link number for forwarding said packet; and forwarding said packet upon a link indicated by said node link number.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 7 wherein: packets designated as interior traffic are routed through topologically interior nodes of said network; packets designated as transitory traffic are routed through topologically exterior nodes of said network; packets designated as interior-to-exterior traffic are routed through topologically interior nodes towards topologically exterior nodes of said network; and packets designated as exterior-to-interior traffic are routed through topologically exterior nodes towards topologically interior nodes of said network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 wherein each packet includes a header which includes said particular traffic class of said packet, said source node address, and said destination node address.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said header is a four-byte header in identical format to standard IP address headers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 10 wherein: said second byte of said four-byte packet header indicates said traffic class designation; said third byte of said four-byte packet header indicates said source node; and said fourth byte of said four-byte packet header indicates said destination node.
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) | 2004-07-16 | 2005-01-15 | 2005-07-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-07-16 | 2009-01-15 | 2009-07-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-07-16 | 2013-01-15 | 2013-07-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |