Topology independent broadcast of cells in an ATM network or the

Details Topology independent broadcast of cells in an ATM network or the Topology independent broadcast of cells in an ATM network or the

1992-11-23

1994-09-06

Shaw, Dale M.

Multiplex communications

Wide area network

Packet switching

370 941, G06F 1300

Patent

active

053455584

ABSTRACT:
A topology-independent method and apparatus for avoiding continuous looping of transmission of cells and for allowing broadcast of cells in a network implementing Asynchronous Transfer Mode ("ATM") or similar networking architectures. The disclosed method and apparatus provides for "misusing" fields in a cell header in order to provide for information identifying a cell as a broadcast cell and to provide for "expiration information" in the cell header. More specifically, a first station stores data in a first area of a cell intended for transmission on the network, where the first area is defined by standards to store certain information (in particular, it is defined in the preferred embodiment to store virtual path identifier information, VPI). The information stored identifies the cell as a broadcast cell. In other words, the field is "misused" to store this information. The first station further stores in a second field, also defined by the standard to store certain information (in particular, virtual channel identifier information, VCI), information which allows for expiration of the cell. Thus, this second field is also "misused". The cell is then transmitted onto the network, copied and forwarded out of multiple ports of each switch, until the cell "expires". In the described embodiment, the "expiration information" is implemented as a hop count.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4545013 (1981-12-01), Lyon et al.
patent: 4644532 (1985-06-01), George et al.
patent: 4827411 (1987-06-01), Arrowood et al.
patent: 4947388 (1990-08-01), Kuwahara et al.
patent: 5012466 (1991-04-01), Buhrke et al.
patent: 5049873 (1990-05-01), Robins et al.
patent: 5084867 (1992-01-01), Tachibana et al.
patent: 5101348 (1988-06-01), Arrowood et al.
patent: 5119367 (1992-06-01), Kawakatsu et al.
patent: 5119369 (1992-06-01), Tanabe et al.
patent: 5140588 (1992-08-01), Danner
patent: 5142531 (1992-08-01), Kirby
patent: 5191577 (1993-03-01), Uchida et al.
patent: 5224099 (1993-06-01), Corbalis et al.
patent: 5229991 (1993-07-01), Turner
Ross Finlayson, "Bootstrap Loading Using TFTP", Networking Group Request for Comments: 906. Jun. 1984. pp. 1-4.
J. Postel, "User Datagram Protocal", RFC 768. Aug. 28, 1980. pp. 1-3.
K. R. Sollins, "The TFTP Protocol (Revision 2)", Network Working Group Request for Comments: 783. Jun. 1981. pp. 1-9.
W. Richard Stevens, "UNIX Network Programming", Health Systems International. 1990. pp. 466-472.
Martin de Prycker, "Asynchronous Transfer Mode: Solution for Broadband ISDN" 1991. pp. 55-124.
Rainer Handel and Manfred N. Huber, "Integrated Broadband Networks: An Introduction to ATM-Based Networks" 1991. pp. 84-91 and 113-136.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Topology independent broadcast of cells in an ATM network or the does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Topology independent broadcast of cells in an ATM network or the, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Topology independent broadcast of cells in an ATM network or the will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-1335511