US6529498B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Routing support for point-to-multipoint connections
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
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Filing: 1998-10-13
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Granted: 2003-03-04
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Expires: 2018-10-13
Abstract
Abstract A distrubution tree for point-to-multipoint connections within a computer network may be dynamically created according to the number of connections shared by individual point-to-point connections which comprise the point-to-multipoint connection. Each distribution tree represents a collection of DTLs, overlapped from a root node of the tree to leaf nodes thereof. The distribution tree may be organized as a distribution table having two dimensions with row indices thereof comprising PNNI node indices of succeeding nodes along a connection DTL. Individual entries in a first column of the distribution table may indicate PNNI node indices of proceeding nodes along the connection DTL. Individual entries in a second column of the distribution table may indicate the number of point-to-point connections for the point-to-multipoint connection that use a link connecting a pair of proceeding and succeeding nodes. A path (or sub-path) may be selected from the distribution table in response to a request for a point-to-multipoint connection within the ATM network. Further, the distribution table may be updated in response to a call being added or dropped within the network.
Inventors
- 👤 Dean Cheng
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:51
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L45/00; H04L45/48; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/185; H04L45/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
37 words
A method comprising: receiving information about routing selections; and dynamically creating a distribution tree representing a point-to-multipoint connection within a computer network according to routing selections made for at least one point-to-point connection of the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
37 words
A method comprising: receiving information about routing selections; and dynamically creating a distribution tree representing a point-to-multipoint connection within a computer network according to routing selections made for at least one point-to-point connection of the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the routing selections for the at least one point-to-point connection are made according to traffic metrics advertised for service classes within the network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the traffic metrics include administrative weight (AW), cell transfer delay (CTD) and cell delay variation (CDV).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the service classes include constant bit rate (CBR), real-time variable bit rate (rtVBR), non-real-time variable bit rate (nrtVBR), available bit rate (ABR) and unspecified bit rate (UBR).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the routing selections provide pre-computed routes within the computer network optimized to one of the traffic metrics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the distribution tree represents routes within the computer network optimized to share one or more of the routing selections of the at least one point-to-point connection.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the distribution tree is represented as a multidimensional table stored in a computer-readable format.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
41 words
A method comprising: receiving information about a number of connections; and dynamically generating a distribution table representing a point-to-multipoint connection supported by an ATM network according to the number of connections shared by individual point-to-point connections which comprise the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
41 words
A method comprising: receiving information about a number of connections; and dynamically generating a distribution table representing a point-to-multipoint connection supported by an ATM network according to the number of connections shared by individual point-to-point connections which comprise the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 8 wherein the distribution table is organized in a format having two dimensions with row indices thereof comprising PNNI node indices of succeeding nodes along a connection DTL.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 9 wherein individual entries in a first column of the distribution table indicate PNNI node indices of proceeding nodes along the connection DTL.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 10 wherein individual entries in a second column of the distribution table indicate the number of point-to-point connections for the point-to-multipoint connection that use a link connecting a pair of proceeding and succeeding nodes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising selecting a path from the distribution table in response to a request for a point-to-multipoint connection within the ATM network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 8 further comprising updating the distribution table in response to a call being added or dropped within the ATM network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
A distribution table, comprising: a first column including network indices of nodes along a connection path of one or more point-to-point connections of a point-to-multipoint connection within a network; and a second column including values indicating the number of point-to-point connections for the point-to-multipoint connection that use a link connecting a pair of the nodes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A distribution table, comprising: a first column including network indices of nodes along a connection path of one or more point-to-point connections of a point-to-multipoint connection within a network; and a second column including values indicating the number of point-to-point connections for the point-to-multipoint connection that use a link connecting a pair of the nodes.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The distribution table of claim 14 wherein the network indices comprise PNNI node indices.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The distribution table of claim 15 wherein the network comprises an ATM network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The distribution table of claim 14 wherein the first column is indexable using network indices of succeeding nodes along the connection path and for each index of one of the succeeding nodes, an entry in the first column indicates a proceeding node thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The distribution table of claim 14 wherein the connection path comprises a path optimized according to the number of shared ones of the point-to-point connections of the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
42 words
An apparatus comprising: means for receiving routing information about routing selections; and means for dynamically creating a distribution tree representing a point-to-multipoint connection within a computer network according to routing selections made for at least one point-to-point connection of the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
42 words
An apparatus comprising: means for receiving routing information about routing selections; and means for dynamically creating a distribution tree representing a point-to-multipoint connection within a computer network according to routing selections made for at least one point-to-point connection of the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the routing selections for the at least one point-to-point connection are made according to traffic metrics advertised for service classes within the network.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the traffic metrics include administrative weight (AW), cell transfer delay (CTD) and cell delay variation (CDV).
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the service classes include constant bit rate (CBR), real-time variable bit rate (rtVBR), non-real-time variable bit rate (nrtVBR), available bit rate (ABR) and unspecified bit rate (UBR).
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the routing selections provide pre-computed routes within the computer network optimized to one of the traffic metrics.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the distribution tree represents routes within the computer network optimized to share one or more of the routing selections of the at least one point-to-point connection.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the distribution tree is represented as a multidimensional table stored in a computer-readable format.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
43 words
An apparatus comprising: receiving information about a number of connections; and means for dynamically generating a distribution table representing a point-to-multipoint connection supported by an ATM network according to the number of connections shared by individual point-to-point connections which comprise the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
43 words
An apparatus comprising: receiving information about a number of connections; and means for dynamically generating a distribution table representing a point-to-multipoint connection supported by an ATM network according to the number of connections shared by individual point-to-point connections which comprise the point-to-multipoint connection.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the distribution table is organized in a format having two dimensions with row indices thereof comprising PNNI node indices of succeeding nodes along a connection DTL.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 27 wherein individual entries in a first column of the distribution table indicate PNNI node indices of proceeding nodes along the connection DTL.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 28 wherein individual entries in a second column of the distribution table indicate the number of point-to-point connections for the point-to-multipoint connection that use a link connecting a pair of proceeding and succeeding nodes.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 26 further comprising means for selecting a path from the distribution table in response to a request for a point-to-multipoint connection within the ATM network.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means for updating the distribution table in response to a call being added or dropped within the ATM network.
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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) | 2006-03-03 | 2006-09-02 | 2007-03-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-03 | 2010-09-02 | 2011-03-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-03 | 2014-09-02 | 2015-03-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |