Convergent network topology discovery and mapping

• US 20120236757A1
• Filed: 12/22/2011
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klein, Philippe
• Application Number:
  US13/334,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20120236757A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/255
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/66 Layer 2 routing, e.g. in Ethernet based MAN's
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/00 Reducing energy consumption in communication networks

Abstract

Convergent network topology discovery and mapping. A topology discovery protocol allows for the discovery of the different respective communication links within a convergent network that may become composed of any of a number of different respective network types (e.g., a local area network (LAN), wireless LAN (WLAN/WiFi), a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network, a HomePlug network, and a wireless point to point (P2P) system, etc.). Such a topology discovery protocol may be implemented as a Layer 2 peer-to-peer link layer discovery protocol (LLDP). Topology discovery may be limited to neighboring nodes only (e.g., reporting information corresponding only to those nodes directly connected to a given node). Any desired device within the overall convergent network may serve as a mapper operative communication device (e.g., that device which performs the mapping service such as in accordance with generating a graph corresponding to the topology indicating of connectivity among the various communication devices).

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an input for receiving a plurality of messages from a plurality of communication devices including a plurality of bridges and a plurality of end stations, each of the plurality of messages in accordance with a Layer 2 peer to peer link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) and corresponding to connectivity from a respective one of the plurality of communication devices to neighboring communication devices connected to the respective one of the plurality of communication devices via a respective direct communication link;

a processing module for;

processing the plurality of messages thereby determining a topology indicating connectivity among the plurality of communication devices;

generating a graph corresponding to the topology indicating of connectivity among the plurality of communication devices; and

an output for transmitting the graph to at least one of the plurality of communication devices.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of bridges receiving at least one of the plurality of messages from at least one of the plurality of communication devices connected to the bridge via a direct communication link and forwarding the at least one of the plurality of messages to the apparatus.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus for receiving the plurality of messages only from the plurality of bridges; and

each of the plurality of bridges for;

receiving a respective plurality of LLDP messages from those of the plurality of end stations connected thereto via a plurality of respective direct communication links; and

multicasting the respective plurality of LLDP messages to the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus being an end station or a bridge.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the apparatus and the plurality of communication devices implemented within a convergent network including a combination of at least two respective network types corresponding to a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi), a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network, a local area network (LAN), a HomePlug network, and a wireless point to point (P2P) system.

6. An apparatus, comprising:

an input for receiving a plurality of messages from a plurality of communication devices, each of the plurality of messages corresponding to connectivity from a respective one of the plurality of communication devices to neighboring communication devices connected to the respective one of the plurality of communication devices via a respective direct communication link; and

a processing module for processing the plurality of messages thereby determining a topology indicating connectivity among the plurality of communication devices.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of communication devices being a bridge; and

the bridge receiving at least one of the plurality of messages from at least one of the plurality of communication devices connected to the bridge via a direct communication link and forwarding the at least one of the plurality of messages to the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of messages being in accordance with a Layer 2 peer to peer link layer discovery protocol (LLDP).

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of communication devices including a plurality of bridges and a plurality of end stations;

the apparatus for receiving the plurality of messages only from the plurality of bridges; and

each of the plurality of bridges for;

receiving a respective plurality of link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) messages from those of the plurality of end stations connected thereto via a plurality of respective direct communication links; and

multicasting the respective plurality of LLDP messages to the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of communication devices including a plurality of bridges and a plurality of end stations; and

the apparatus being an end station.

11. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the plurality of communication devices including a plurality of bridges and a plurality of end stations; and

the apparatus being a bridge.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the processing module for generating a graph corresponding to the topology indicating of connectivity among the plurality of communication devices; and

further comprising;

an output for transmitting the graph to at least one of the plurality of communication devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein:

the apparatus and the plurality of communication devices implemented within a convergent network including a combination of at least two respective network types corresponding to a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi), a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network, a local area network (LAN), a HomePlug network, and a wireless point to point (P2P) system.

14. A method for operating a mapper operative communication device, comprising:

via an input, receiving a plurality of messages from a plurality of communication devices, each of the plurality of messages corresponding to connectivity from a respective one of the plurality of communication devices to neighboring communication devices connected to the respective one of the plurality of communication devices via a respective direct communication link; and

processing the plurality of messages thereby determining a topology indicating connectivity among the plurality of communication devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

at least one of the plurality of communication devices being a bridge; and

further comprising;

operating the bridge for receiving at least one of the plurality of messages from at least one of the plurality of communication devices connected to the bridge via a direct communication link and forwarding the at least one of the plurality of messages to the apparatus.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the plurality of messages being in accordance with a Layer 2 peer to peer link layer discovery protocol (LLDP).

17. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the plurality of communication devices including a plurality of bridges and a plurality of end stations; and

further comprising;

operating the mapper operative communication device for receiving the plurality of messages only from the plurality of bridges; and

operating each of the plurality of bridges for;

receiving a respective plurality of link layer discovery protocol (LLDP) messages from those of the plurality of end stations connected thereto via a plurality of respective direct communication links; and

multicasting the respective plurality of LLDP messages to the mapper operative communication device.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the plurality of communication devices including a plurality of bridges and a plurality of end stations; and

the mapper operative communication device being an end station or a bridge.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

generating a graph corresponding to the topology indicating of connectivity among the plurality of communication devices; and

further comprising;

via an output, transmitting the graph to at least one of the plurality of communication devices.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the mapper operative communication device and the plurality of communication devices implemented within a convergent network including a combination of at least two respective network types corresponding to a wireless local area network (WLAN/WiFi), a multimedia over coax alliance (MoCA) network, a local area network (LAN), a HomePlug network, and a wireless point to point (P2P) system.