Reliable message transfer over an unreliable network
First Claim
1. A communications network, comprising:
- a plurality of nodes adapted to communicate by transmitting packets between source nodes and destination nodes;
a network interface associated with each node, each network interface defining a plurality of routes for transferring each packet from a source node to a destination node, each network interface further comprising path status indicators for indicating whether each route is usable or is unusable as being associated with a fault; and
a network manager for monitoring the network to identify faults therein and for providing the path status indicators to the respective network interfaces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a communications network having a plurality of nodes adapted to communicate with each other, and more than one path available between most source-destination node-pairs, a network interface is associated with each node. Each network interface has a plurality of route tables for defining a plurality of routes for transferring each packet from a source node to a destination node. Each network interface further includes a path status table of path status indicators, e.g., bits, for indicating whether each route in the route tables is usable or is unusable as being associated with a fault. The network manager monitors the network to identify faults and provides the path status indicators to the respective network interfaces. Failed routes in the network are avoided based on the path status indicators. When a failed route is restored, such that the route is usable again, the path status table indicates that the usable state is restored. A balance of route usage in the network is maintained, without modifying routes or establishing different routes, enabling reliable and high-performance message transfer.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A communications network, comprising:
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a plurality of nodes adapted to communicate by transmitting packets between source nodes and destination nodes;
a network interface associated with each node, each network interface defining a plurality of routes for transferring each packet from a source node to a destination node, each network interface further comprising path status indicators for indicating whether each route is usable or is unusable as being associated with a fault; and
a network manager for monitoring the network to identify faults therein and for providing the path status indicators to the respective network interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for communicating among a plurality of nodes in a network, comprising:
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defining a plurality of routes for transferring a packet from a source node to a destination node in the network;
monitoring the network to identify faults therein;
providing path status indicators for indicating whether each route is usable or is unusable as being associated with a fault; and
selecting a usable route for transferring the packet from the respective source node to the respective destination node. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An article of manufacture, comprising:
at least one computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for effecting communication among a plurality of nodes in a network, the computer readable program code means in the article of manufacture comprising;
computer readable code means for defining a plurality of routes for transferring a packet from a source node to a destination node in the network;
computer readable code means for monitoring the network to identify faults therein; and
computer readable code means for providing path status indicators for indicating whether each route is usable or is unusable as being associated with a fault; and
computer readable code means for selecting a usable route for transferring the packet from the respective source node to the respective destination node. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. At least one program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method for communicating among a plurality of nodes in a network, the method comprising:
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defining a plurality of routes for transferring the packet from a source node to a destination node in the network;
monitoring the network to identify faults therein;
providing path status indicators for indicating whether each route is usable or is unusable as being associated with a fault; and
selecting a usable route for transferring the packet from the respective source node to the respective destination node. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification