Method and apparatus for synchronizing a data communications network
First Claim
1. A method of synchronizing a data communications network comprising a plurality of existing nodes forming one or more synchronization domains and a node entering the network, in which each existing node in a synchronization domain stores a common representation of the synchronization domain and is configured to flood the synchronization domain with domain representation information, in which, in a synchronization domain identification step performed at the entering node, the entering node exchanges entering node domain representation information with a first neighboring existing node, and identifies as a first synchronization domain common with the first neighboring existing node all neighboring existing nodes from which the entering node domain representation information is flooded back to the entering node.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for synchronizing a data communications network. The data communications network comprises a plurality of existing nodes forming one or more synchronization domains and a node entering the network. Each existing node in a synchronization domain stores a common representation of the synchronization domain and is configured to flood the synchronization domain with domain representation information. In a synchronization domain identification step formed at the entering node, the entering node exchanges entering node domain representation information with a first neighboring existing node. The entering node identifies as a first synchronization domain common with the first neighboring existing node all neighboring existing nodes from which the entering node domain representation information is flooded back the entering node.
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Citations
33 Claims
- 1. A method of synchronizing a data communications network comprising a plurality of existing nodes forming one or more synchronization domains and a node entering the network, in which each existing node in a synchronization domain stores a common representation of the synchronization domain and is configured to flood the synchronization domain with domain representation information, in which, in a synchronization domain identification step performed at the entering node, the entering node exchanges entering node domain representation information with a first neighboring existing node, and identifies as a first synchronization domain common with the first neighboring existing node all neighboring existing nodes from which the entering node domain representation information is flooded back to the entering node.
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15. A method of identifying synchronization domain candidate nodes in a data communications network in which each node in the network stores synchronization domain representation information comprising the steps of comparing the sizes of the synchronization domain representation information stores and selecting a node having the largest store as a synchronization domain candidate.
- 17. An apparatus for synchronizing a data communications network comprising a plurality of existing nodes forming one or more synchronization domains and a node entering the network, in which each existing node in a synchronization domain stores a common representation of the synchronization domain and is configured to flood the synchronization domain with domain representation information, comprising means, in a synchronization domain identification step, for exchanging entering node domain representation information with a first neighboring existing node, and means for identifying as a first synchronization domain common with the first neighboring existing node all neighboring existing nodes from which the entering node domain representation information is flooded back to the entering node.
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31. An apparatus for identifying synchronization domain candidate nodes in a data communications network in which each node in the network stores synchronization domain representation information comprising means for comparing the sizes of the synchronization domain representation information stores and means for selecting a node having the largest store as a synchronization domain candidate.
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33. A method of synchronizing a data communications network comprising a plurality of existing nodes forming one or more synchronization domains and a node entering the network, wherein each existing node in a synchronization domain stores a common representation of the synchronization domain and is configured to flood the synchronization domain with domain representation information, the method comprising the steps of:
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exchanging entering node domain representation information with a first neighboring existing node as part of a synchronization domain identification process;
identifying, as a first synchronization domain common with the first neighboring existing node, all neighboring existing nodes; and
receiving node domain representation information in flooded communications from all said neighboring existing nodes.
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Specification