Multiplex communications – Channel assignment techniques – Messages addressed to multiple destinations
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-01
2001-08-07
Kizou, Hassan (Department: 2662)
Multiplex communications
Channel assignment techniques
Messages addressed to multiple destinations
C370S352000, C370S396000, C370S410000, C709S225000, C709S226000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06272145
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to data communication networks. More specifically, the invention provides a system for identifying a bundle head to reassemble data fragments transmitted across multiple communication links.
BACKGROUND
Data communication networks are capable of communicating various types of information between two or more devices coupled to the network. In certain situations, a device may transmit data to a destination by utilizing multiple communication links simultaneously. This is often referred to as multilink communication. For example, a remote data source may transmit data to a remote access unit across multiple communication links simultaneously, in which each communication link is coupled between the remote access unit and the remote data source. By using multiple communication links, the data can be transmitted faster than with a single communication link. Additionally, when multiple communication links are used, a single slow link has less affect on the overall data throughput because other communication links with better throughput can handle a greater portion of the data.
In existing systems, the multiple communication links are coupled between a single remote access unit and the remote data source. If the single remote access unit is approaching its data handling capacity, then the throughput on all of the multiple communication links may be reduced due to the limitations of the remote access unit. To avoid this problem, it is desirable to establish communication links between the remote data source and two or more remote access units. In this type of configuration, if one of the remote access units is approaching its data handling capacity, the transmission of data can be shifted to another remote access unit (using another communication link) having greater available resources. However, in existing systems, when data is transmitted to two or more remote access units, the multiple remote access units do not have any mechanism for reassembling the received data into its original form. Although one of the remote access units may be designated as the unit responsible for reassembling the data, existing systems do not have the ability to locate that designated unit or to transmit data from one remote access unit to another.
It is therefore desirable to provide a system capable of establishing and identifying bundle heads that are responsible for reassembling data received by multiple remote access units across multiple communication links.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the invention provides a system that identifies a bundle head in response to a request to establish a multilink connection. The system determines an endpoint identifier associated with the received connection request. A message is generated to identify other devices servicing the same endpoint identifier. The current device is established as bundle head for the endpoint identifier if a timeout period expires and no other device is identified as servicing the same endpoint identifier.
In a particular embodiment of the invention, the system generates a random number that is included in the message generated to identify other devices servicing the same endpoint identifier. The current devices is established as bundle head if a timeout period expires and the random number generated by the current device is lower than random numbers generated by other devices.
Another embodiment of the invention broadcasts a message indicating that the current device is the bundle head for the endpoint identifier if a timeout period expires and no other device is identified as servicing the same endpoint identifier.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5606561 (1997-02-01), Scheibel, Jr. et al.
patent: 6147987 (2000-11-01), Chau et al.
patent: 6185601 (2001-02-01), Wolff
A. Valencia, et al.; Layer Two Tunneling Protocol “L2TP”; Mar. 1998; pp. 1-83.*
W. Simpson; The Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP); Jul. 1994; pp. 1-44.
Kizou Hassan
Nortel Networks Limited
Pezzlo John
Sokoloff Blakely
Taylor & Zafman LLP
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