System and method for dynamic distributed communication
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Growth of a distributed communication system is facilitated through dynamic addition of routing elements. A new routing element may be added to a network of routing elements by first establishing a connection between the new routing element and an existing routing element in the network. The connection may be either wireless or wireline. At least one address is assigned to the new routing element. Each assigned address comes from a pool of addresses maintained at the existing routing element. At least one pool of addresses is issued to the new routing element, permitting the new routing element to dynamically add yet another new routing element to the network of routing elements.
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Citations
41 Claims
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1-7. -7. (canceled)
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8. A method of dynamically adding a routing element to a distributed communications network comprising:
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establishing an ATM virtual connection with an existing distribution point already part of the communications network;
requesting an ATM end user address from the existing distribution point;
obtaining an ATM end user address from the existing distribution point, the ATM end user address allocated from a pool of ATM end user addresses in the existing distribution point;
requesting an IP address from the existing distribution point; and
obtaining an IP address from the existing distribution point, the IP address allocated from a pool of IP addresses in the existing distribution point. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of adding a new distribution point to a network of-distribution points, the method comprising:
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establishing a connection between the new distribution point and at least one existing distribution point in the network of distribution points;
forming a peer-to-peer relationship at an OSI network layer between the new distribution point and the at least one existing distribution point; and
forming a peer-to-peer relationship at an OSI data link layer between the new distribution point and the at least one existing distribution point.;
- View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method of adding an access point to a network of distribution points, the method comprising:
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establishing a connection between the access point and at least one existing distribution point in the network of distribution points;
forming a client-server relationship at an OSI network layer between the access point client and the at least one existing distribution point server; and
forming a client-server relationship at an OSI data link layer between the access point and the at least one existing distribution point server. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A communications network for distributing packetized information comprising:
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a supervisor operative to supply a plurality of pools of ATM end user addresses and a plurality of pools of IP addresses;
a plurality of access points, each access point operative to transmit packets to and receive packets from at least one subscriber unit; and
a plurality of distribution points, the access points and distribution points forming a network, each distribution point in communication with at least one other distribution point and with the supervisor, each access point in communication with at least one distribution point, each distribution point operative to (a) obtain a pool of ATM end user addresses from the supervisor, (b) obtain a pool of IP addresses from the supervisor, (c) receive a request from a new network element to join the network, (d) provide the new network element with an ATM end user address from the pool of ATM end user addresses, and (e) provide the new network element with an IP address from the pool of IP addresses. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31-37. -37. (canceled)
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38. A distributed communication system comprising:
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a network of distribution points for routing information packets based on destination addresses; and
a new distribution point to be added to the network of distribution points, the new distribution point operative to (a) establish a connection with at least one existing distribution point in the network of distribution points, (b) form a peer-to-peer relationship at an OSI network layer with the at least one existing distribution point, and (c) form a peer-to-peer relationship at an OSI data link layer with the at least one existing distribution point. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. A distributed communication system comprising:
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a network of distribution points for routing information packets based on destination addresses; and
a new access point to be connected to the network of distribution points, the new access point operative to (a) establish a connection with at least one existing distribution point in the network of distribution points, (b) form a client-server relationship at the data link layer with the at least one existing distribution point, the new access point functioning as a client and the at least one existing distribution point functioning as a server, and (c) form a client-server relationship at the network layer with the at least one existing distribution point, the new access point functioning as a client and the at least one existing distribution point functioning as a server. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification