Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Network computer configuring – Reconfiguring
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-28
2001-04-03
An, Meng-Ai T. (Department: 2154)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Network computer configuring
Reconfiguring
C709S220000, C709S223000, C709S227000, C709S236000, C709S242000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212559
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to computer networks and, more particularly, to techniques for configuring large interconnected networks to enable proper routing of messages to their intended destinations. The interconnection of many local area networks (LANs) and larger networks, sometimes referred to as wide area networks (WANs), is now a relatively well understood concept in most business, educational and government organizations. Computers may be interconnected through telephone lines, coaxial cables, optical fibers, radio or microwave communication links, earth-orbiting satellites, or other means.
In a large interconnected computer network, such as the Internet, computers may be categorized by the principal functions they perform. For example, there are user computers that function as network nodes or stations, sometimes referred to as host computers, which send and receive messages over a network in the form of packets of data. Other computers function as servers, and distribute requested data to network users with host computers. Computers in another category function solely to route data packets or messages from one part of the network to another. These are known by various names suggestive of the specific functions they perform, such as bridges, routers, switches and gateways. A bridge is a device that is connected to at least two LANs and serves to pass message frames or packets between the LANs, such that a source station on one LAN can transmit data to a destination station on another LAN without concern for the location of the destination. A bridge “listens” to messages from every LAN to which it is connected and relays the message onto all the other LANs to which it is connected. Routers perform an analogous function but make use of a network identifier in a message destination address to determine an optimum path for the message.
Every network station or node has both a physical address and a logical address. The physical address is a unique numerical or other code that uniquely defines the station and the local network to which it is connected. The logical address is usually a name or label associated with the station or the person using it. The logical address, which may include a person's name, is the address other users employ to direct messages to the person without having to remember or look up a long and complicated physical address.
In any large organization with many interconnected computers, whether it be a business, educational or military organization, proper routing of data messages from one network station to another depends largely on having the network accurately configured. That is to say, each network station or host must have its hardware address properly set up and each router or other message routing computer must be properly programmed to reflect exactly the physical locations of the stations in the network, the relationships between the physical and logical addresses, and the interconnection paths between all the computers and interconnected LANs in the network. This configuration process is conventionally performed manually, typically by technicians or system administrative personnel.
As interconnected networks become more complex, it also becomes more difficult to ensure that every network component has been correctly configured. The principal reason that manual network configuration is tolerated in large organizations is that in many cases the network configuration is relatively static, and the required changes are small and incremental. When a new employee joins the network or changes physical locations, it is a relatively simple matter to reconfigure the network to include his or her computer in the appropriate new location. Extensive corporate reorganizations are typically infrequent and there is usually adequate warning to make the necessary configuration changes.
A more difficult problem is presented when frequent changes are needed in the network configuration. One example is a military communication network in which many of the computer stations are mobile and reconfiguration may be needed on a daily or even more frequent basis during military maneuvers. In this case, there is simply not enough time for manual reconfiguration of a large interconnected network of computers.
Accordingly, there is a significant need for an automated process to reconfigure large computer networks, such as wireless military networks. Even in a commercial setting where there is usually enough time to reconfigure networks when changes occur, there is a need for a technique that would effect network reconfiguration more quickly and reliably than by manual means. The present invention satisfies this need and provides a number of other related advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention resides in a system and a related method for automatically configuring or reconfiguring a large interconnected computer network under control of a user with appropriate system administration access to the network. Briefly, and in general terms, the method of the invention comprises the steps of planning a network configuration in simulated form through a graphical user interface; generating network programming data corresponding to a new configuration arrived at in the planning step; disseminating the network programming data over an existing communication network; conditioning computers in the network to switch to the new configuration on the occurrence of a triggering signal; and switching to the new configuration upon occurrence of the triggering signal.
In one embodiment of the invention, the triggering signal is generated by a clock in each computer and the conditioning step conditions the network computers to switch to the new configuration at a prearranged time. Alternatively, the triggering signal is generated by a command transmitted to the network computers over the network.
More specifically, the planning step includes specifying a task organization that defines functional interrelationships between users of network computer stations; specifying a platform equipment definition for each network computer station; specifying at least one logical network configuration that defines the interrelationships between network computer stations; automatically converting each logical network configuration to a corresponding physical network configuration; and automatically generating from the physical network configuration a network operational database that completely defines the network and a plurality of management information blocks containing data to be used to program message routing computers in the network. The disseminating step includes transmitting the management information blocks over the network to message routing computers to which the blocks pertain. The conditioning step is then performed in each message routing computer in response to receipt of a management information block.
The method may further comprise the step of generating reports pertaining to the task organization, platform equipment, and logical network configuration defined in the specifying steps, and pertaining to the physical network configuration.
The planning step may further include the step of developing an Internet address book from the data generated during the specifying steps.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the planning step further includes automatically detecting any errors made in the specifying steps; reporting any detected errors; and repeating the specifying steps until any detected and reported errors are eliminated.
The invention may also be defined as a system for configuring a communication network of multiple interconnected computers, some of which perform a message routing function. In its broadest terms, the system comprises a graphical user interface module facilitating specification of a network by an authorized user; a network planning module, coupled to the graphical user interface module and functioning to allow the authorized user to define various aspects of a network of computers; means for gen
Bixler David C.
Hilger Eufemia P.
Siegel Neil G.
Smith Jeffrey A.
Wittlin Mark R.
An Meng-Ai T.
Barot Bharat
TRW Inc.
Yatsko Michael S.
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