Method and apparatus for selecting redundant routers using tracking
US6954436B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 2001 |
| Grant date | Oct 11, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 15, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L45/123
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for electing a master router in a virtual router network by obtaining a tracking parameter for each of the routers participating in a virtual router network. A priority value is assigned to each of the plurality of routers based on the tracking parameter and reported to each router at periodic intervals. The router with the highest priority value is elected, or re-elected, as the new master. The tracking parameters include a ping tracking parameter obtained by pinging the active routes listed in the routing table for each of the of routers participating in the virtual router network, an environmental tracking parameter obtained by inspecting the operating characteristics outside of the control of the router, including operating temperature and power supply status, and a diagnostic tracking parameter obtained by inspecting the diagnostic data representing operating characteristics within the control of the router, including an operability status of the router's circuitry and channels and a status of the packet-level connectivity to the physical layer backplane network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.