System and method for automatic election of a representative node within a communications network with built-in redundancy
US6363416B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 28, 1998 |
| Grant date | Mar 26, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 28, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L41/30
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for automatic election a representative node within a communication network with built-in redundancy. In a communication network where data is distributed from a central location to multiple nodes, the present invention enables one of the nodes to be automatically identified as a master of the nodes for retrieving data from the central location and then transmitting the data to all peer nodes interested in receiving the data. No manual intervention or pre-operation designation of a master is required within the present invention. As such, repetitive requests for information by individual nodes are eliminated, and the volume of network traffic is thereby significantly localized. Hence, the performance of the network is greatly enhanced. Furthermore, rather than arbitrarily preassigning particular node(s) to serve as a master, the present invention provides an automated process by which a new master is dynamically elected whenever an existing master fails or none exists. Therefore, the present invention provides built-in redundancy which greatly improves the reliability of network communications.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.