Managing network traffic using hashing functions

• US 20020129133A1
• Filed: 12/22/2000
• Published: 09/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Olsen, Gregory P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,203,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1881 with schedule organisation, e.g. priority, sequence management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1886 with traffic restrictions for efficiency improvement, e.g. involving subnets or subdomains
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/15 in relation to multipoint traffic arrangements for broadcast or multicast in data networks H04L12/18

Abstract

Network traffic that is used to communicate multicast and broadcast messages are separated into subgroups with respect to the multicast and broadcast messages. In one embodiment a hashing function is used to separate target devices into subgroups. For example, a device identifier can be used by a hash function to determine which subgroup the device belongs to. Messages can be sent to the different subgroups at different times to manage network traffic, or the devices can reply to messages based on their respective subgroupings to manage network traffic.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

dividing a set of target devices to which a message is targeted into a number of subsets of target devices, wherein the subset to which a particular device belongs is determined based on an identifier of the device and the number of subsets of target devices; and

varying the timing with which the message is communicated to the respective subsets of target devices.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a set of target devices to which the message is targeted comprises:

broadcasting the message over a network;

receiving one or more responses to the message from target devices coupled to the network;

estimating a number of devices coupled to the network; and

determining a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices coupled to the network.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a set of target devices to which the message is targeted comprises:

multicasting the message to a subnet of a network;

receiving one or more responses to the message from target devices of the subnet;

estimating a number of devices in the subnet; and

determining a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices in the subnet.

4. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium to provide machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more electronic systems to:

divide a set of target devices to which a message is targeted into a number of subsets of target devices, wherein the subset to which a particular device belongs is determined based on an identifier of the device and the number of subsets of target devices; and

vary the timing with which the message is communicated to the respective subsets of target devices.

5. The article of claim 4 wherein the sequences of instructions that cause the one or more electronic systems to determine a set of target devices to which the message is targeted further comprises sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic systems to:

broadcast the message over a network;

receive one or more responses to the message from target devices coupled to the network;

estimate a number of devices coupled to the network; and

determine a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices coupled to the network.

6. The article of claim 4 wherein the sequences of instructions that cause the one or more electronic systems to determine a set of target devices to which the message is targeted further comprises sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic systems to:

multicast the message to a subnet of a network;

receive one or more responses to the message from target devices of the subnet;

estimate a number of devices in the subnet; and

determine a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices in the subnet.

7. An electronic data signal embodied in a data communications medium shared among a plurality of network devices comprising sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause one or more electronic systems to:

divide a set of target devices to which a message is targeted into a number of subsets of target devices, wherein the subset to which a particular device belongs is determined based on an identifier of the device and the number of subsets of target devices; and

vary the timing with which the message is communicated to the respective subsets of target devices.

8. The electronic data signal of claim 7 wherein the sequences of instructions that cause the one or more electronic systems to determine a set of target devices to which the message is targeted further comprises sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic systems to:

broadcast the message over a network;

receive one or more responses to the message from target devices coupled to the network;

estimate a number of devices coupled to the network; and

determine a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices coupled to the network.

9. The electronic data signal of claim 7 wherein the sequences of instructions that cause the one or more electronic systems to determine a set of target devices to which the message is targeted further comprises sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic systems to:

multicast the message to a subnet of a network;

receive one or more responses to the message from target devices of the subnet;

estimate a number of devices in the subnet; and

determine a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices in the subnet.

10. A method comprising:

dividing a set of target devices to which a message is targeted into multiple subsets of target devices, wherein the subset to which a particular device belongs is determined based on an identifier of the device; and

varying the timing with which the respective subsets of target devices respond to the message.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein determining a set of target devices to which the message is targeted comprises:

broadcasting the message over a network;

receiving one or more responses to the message from target devices coupled to the network;

estimating a number of devices coupled to the network; and

determining a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices coupled to the network.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein determining a set of target devices to which the message is targeted comprises:

multicasting the message to a subnet of a network;

receiving one or more responses to the message from target devices of the subnet;

estimating a number of devices in the subnet; and

determining a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices in the subnet.

14. The article of claim 13 wherein the sequences of instructions that cause the one or more electronic systems to determine a set of target devices to which the message is targeted comprises sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic systems to:

broadcast the message over a network;

receive one or more responses to the message from target devices coupled to the network;

estimate a number of devices coupled to the network; and

determine a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices coupled to the network.

15. The article of claim 13 wherein the sequences of instructions that cause the one or more electronic systems to determine a set of target devices to which the message is targeted comprises sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic systems to:

multicast the message to a subnet of a network;

receive one or more responses to the message from target devices of the subnet;

estimate a number of devices in the subnet; and

determine a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices in the subnet.

17. The electronic data signal of claim 16 wherein the sequences of instructions that cause the one or more electronic systems to determine a set of target devices to which the message is targeted comprises sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic systems to:

broadcast the message over a network;

receive one or more responses to the message from target devices coupled to the network;

estimate a number of devices coupled to the network; and

determine a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices coupled to the network.

18. The electronic data signal of claim 16 wherein the sequences of instructions that cause the one or more electronic systems to determine a set of target devices to which the message is targeted comprises sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic systems to:

multicast the message to a subnet of a network;

receive one or more responses to the message from target devices of the subnet;

estimate a number of devices in the subnet; and

determine a number of subgroups based, at least in part, on the estimated number of devices in the subnet.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the message is a discovery request message.

13. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium to provide machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more electronic systems to:

divide a set of target devices to which a message is targeted into multiple subsets of target devices, wherein the subset to which a particular device belongs is determined based on an identifier of the device; and

vary the timing with which the respective subsets of target devices respond to the message.

16. An electronic data signal embodied in a data communications medium shared among a plurality of network devices comprising sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause one or more electronic systems to:

divide a set of target devices to which a message is targeted into multiple subsets of target devices, wherein the subset to which a particular device belongs is determined based on an identifier of the device; and

vary the timing with which the respective subsets of target devices respond to the message.

19. A method comprising:

receiving a message via a network, the network coupled to a group of devices, the message having a bins value indicating a number of subgroups to divide the network devices into and a hash value indicating a specific subgroup of the number of subgroups to which the message is targeted;

performing a hashing function with a unique identifier and the bins value to generate a hash result; and

responding to the message if the hash result equals the hash value.

21. An article comprising a machine-accessible medium to provide machine-readable instructions that, when executed, cause one or more electronic systems to:

receive a message via a network, the network coupled to a group of devices, the message having a bins value indicating a number of subgroups to divide the network devices into and a hash value indicating a specific subgroup of the number of subgroups to which the message is targeted;

perform a hashing function with a unique identifier and the bins value to generate a hash result; and

respond to the message if the hash result equals the hash value.

22. The article of claim 21 wherein the message is a discovery request message.

24. The electronic data signal of claim 23 wherein the message is a discovery request message.

23. An electronic data signal embodied in a data communications medium shared among a plurality of network devices comprising sequences of instructions that, when executed, cause one or more electronic systems to:

receive a message via a network, the network coupled to a group of devices, the message having a bins value indicating a number of subgroups to divide the network devices into and a hash value indicating a specific subgroup of the number of subgroups to which the message is targeted;

perform a hashing function with a unique identifier and the bins value to generate a hash result; and

respond to the message if the hash result equals the hash value.