Patent · US Expired

Topology propagation in a distributed computing environment with no topology message traffic in steady state

US6885644B1 · kind B1 · utility

50Cited by
13References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 30, 2000
Grant dateApr 26, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 14, 2022

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L43/10
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A topology propagation facility is provided for maintaining a common network topology database at different nodes in a distributed computing environment. The facility generates no message traffic when the distributed computing environment is in steady state. This is accomplished by discontinuing sending of group connectivity messages during a time period of no topology change within the distributed environment. Sending of group connectivity messages is reinitiated from at least one group leader upon identification by the group leader of at least one topology change within the distributed computing environment. Group connectivity messages are forwarded from one group of nodes on a first network to another group of nodes on a second network using a node common to both groups of nodes. The networks of the distributed computing environment can comprise heterogenous networks such that the topology propagation facility presented facilitates interoperability of the networks.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.