Method of operating a packet switching network

• US 5,023,780 A
• Filed: 01/03/1991
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Brearley, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/635,382
• Time in Patent Office: 159 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200, 364/900, 370/60, 370/94.1, 370/94.2
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services independent of the application payload and not provided for in the other groups of this subclass networks security protocols H04L9/40; wireless communication networks H04W

Abstract

A method of operating a packet switching network is disclosed in which a Systems Network Architecture (SNA) computer can control a remote terminal cluster controller and terminals coupled thereto via a switched virtual circuit connection to the terminal cluster controller. The terminals coupled to the terminal cluster controller are able to establish switched virtual circuit connections to other compatible computers, independent of the computer by which the terminal cluster controller is controlled. This is achieved by an access module of the network, to which the terminal cluster controller is connected, presenting different representations of the terminal configuration to the different computers.

Claims

1. A method of operating a packet switching network comprising at least a first network access module having a plurality of terminals coupled thereto via a terminal cluster controller and at least two second network access modules each having a respective computer coupled thereto, the method comprising the steps of:

storing in the first network access module information relating to a configuration of the terminal cluster controller and said plurality of terminals;

establishing a first switched virtual circuit connection between the first network access module and one of the second network access modules having a first computer coupled thereto, wherein the first network access module provides a representation of said configuration of the terminal cluster controller and said configuration of the terminal cluster controller and said plurality of terminals from the stored information to the first computer via this first switched virtual circuit connection for control of the terminal cluster controller and said plurality of terminals by said first computer;

establishing a second switched virtual circuit connection between the first network access module and one of the second network access modules having a second computer coupled thereto, wherein the first network access module provides a representation of a single one of said plurality of terminals coupled thereto via the terminal cluster controller to the second computer via this second switched virtual circuit connection; and

establishing addresses in the first network access module for communications via the second switched virtual circuit connection between the second computer and said single one of said plurality of terminals.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 and including the step of passing a command from said first computer to said terminal cluster controller via said first switched virtual circuit connection for controlling said terminal cluster controller.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 and including the step of passing a command from said first computer to one of said plurality of terminals via said first switched virtual circuit connection for controlling said single one of said plurality of terminals.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 and including the step of exchanging information, relating to monitoring network performance, between said first computer and said terminal cluster controller via said first switched virtual circuit connection for monitoring said terminal cluster controller.

5. A method as claimed in claim I and including the step of exchanging information, relating to monitoring network performance, between said first computer and one of said plurality of terminals via said first switched virtual circuit connection for monitoring said single one of said plurality of terminals.