Multiplex communications – Network configuration determination
Reexamination Certificate
1997-09-19
2001-11-06
Nguyen, Chau (Department: 2663)
Multiplex communications
Network configuration determination
C370S401000, C370S395430, C709S203000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314088
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to connection-oriented communication networks, and more specifically to a node configuration system and method for connection-oriented communication networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional connection-oriented networks, the configuration of client nodes during initial setup usually involves manual procedures by network operators. In order to relieve the network operators from the time-consuming procedures, a configuration procedure has been proposed as described in “LAN Emulation Over ATM: Version 1.0 Specification”, (ATM Forum/94-0035R9), Jan. 6, 1995, pages 62 to 74. According to the prior art configuration procedure, “anycasting” technique is used when a configuration client node attempts to send a packet to one of a group of configuration server nodes if the ATM address of the server node cannot be obtained. This technique is like multicasting in that the destination is a group of addresses, but instead of trying to deliver the packet to all of them, it tries to deliver it to the nearest configuration server node. Anycasting uses a regular unicast (anycast) address. It is up to the routing system to choose the nearest server.
However, one disadvantage of this anycasting approach is that it imposes limitations on the system configuration of a connection-oriented network. Another disadvantage is that, when client's configuration data, which is stored in the configuration server node, is altered, the prior art procedure has no means for detecting and using such alterations for updating the client nodes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a node configuration setup system and method which give flexibility to the design and configuration of connection-oriented networks.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a node configuration setup system which automatically updates client's configuration data.
According to a broader aspect of the present invention, there is provided a node configuration setup system comprising a configuration client node connected to a connection-oriented network, and a plurality of configuration server nodes interconnected via the network. A first configuration server node is responsive to an initial configuration inquiry message from the client node for returning a ready-to-accept message if client's configuration data is located in the first configuration server node, selecting a second configuration server node if the client's data is not located in the first configuration server, and causing the client node to download the client's data from the second configuration server node either directly or via the first configuration server node if the client's data is located in the second configuration server node.
According to a first narrower aspect, the present invention provides a node configuration system which comprises a configuration client node connected to a connection-oriented communication network, and a plurality of configuration server nodes interconnected via the network A first configuration server node is responsive to an initial configuration inquiry message from the configuration client node for transmitting a ready-to-accept message to the client node if client's configuration data is located in the first configuration server node, selecting a second configuration server node if the data is located in the second configuration server rather than in the first configuration server node, and transmitting a change-server message to the configuration client node. The configuration client node is responsive to the ready-to-accept message for downloading the client's configuration data from the first configuration server node and responsive to the change-server message for accessing the second configuration server node and downloading the client's configuration data therefrom.
According to a second narrower aspect, the present invention provides a node configuration system comprising a configuration client node connected to a connection-oriented communication network, and a plurality of configuration server nodes interconnected via the network. A first configuration server node is responsive to an initial configuration inquiry message from the configuration client node for transmitting a first ready-to-accept message to the client node if client's configuration data is located in the first configuration server node, selecting a second configuration server node if the data is located in the second configuration server rather than in the first configuration server node, and receiving the client's configuration data from the second configuration server node and transmitting a second ready-to-accept message to the configuration client node. The configuration client node is responsive to either of the first and second ready-to-accept messages for downloading the client's configuration data from the first configuration server node.
According to a third narrower aspect, the present invention provides a node configuration system comprising a configuration client node connected to a connection-oriented communication network, and a plurality of configuration server nodes interconnected via the network. A first configuration server node is responsive to an initial configuration inquiry message from the configuration client node for transmitting a ready-to-accept message to the client node if client's configuration data is located in the first configuration server node, selecting a second configuration server node if the data is located in the second configuration server rather than in the first configuration server node, and transmitting a direct-transfer request message to the second configuration server node. The second configuration server node is responsive to the direct-transfer request message for transmitting a second ready-to-accept message to the configuration client node. The configuration client node is responsive to the first ready-to-accept message for downloading the client's configuration data from the first configuration server node and responsive to the second ready-to-accept message for downloading the client's configuration data from the second configuration server node.
According to a further aspect, the present invention provides a node configuration setup system comprising a configuration client node connected to a connection-oriented communication network, and a configuration server node connected to the network for transmitting an update message to the configuration client node when client's configuration data is updated. The configuration client node is responsive to the update message for accessing the configuration server node and downloading the updated client's configuration data therefrom.
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Boakye Alexander O.
NEC Corporation
Nguyen Chau
LandOfFree
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