Network fault detection and recovery
US6581166B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jun 17, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 1, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/40
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method of fault detection and recovery utilizes dual independent networks to provide fault-tolerance. These networks, a primary and alternate network, are utilized such that communications for a particular computer take place via that computer's preferred network by default. Faults are detected through the use of a heartbeat pinging mechanism to detect faults on the network itself and by periodic port integrity checks to detect port faults. The integrity of the non-default network and port are also periodically verified to assure effective fault recovery.Upon detection of a fault, a packet routing table in the detecting computer is altered to set the detecting computer's default network to the previously non-default network. Additionally, a new gateway packet is transmitted which allows other network computers to modify their routing tables to communicate with the detecting computer over its current default network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.