Logical grouping of layer entities in a layered communication architecture
First Claim
1. In a system arranged for providing communication services by means of a layered communication architecture having a plurality of layers l through m, wherein provider entities in layer n, where n equals 1 through m-1, may be attached to information block routing access points for the routing of blocks to entities in the adjacent upper layer n+1, a method of logically grouping some of the entities in layer n+1 with a provider entity in layer n, comprising the steps ofactivating a plurality of block routing access points between an entity in layer n and a plurality of entities in layer n+1,assigning a group classification to each access point at the time of activation, wherein each unique group classification forms a logical grouping of layer n+1 entities, and identifying the type of information block that is processed by the layer n+1 entity associated with each access point,upon the receipt of each information block for routing upward in the layered architecture by the layer n entity, determining from the block the logical group for which the block is intended and the type of information contained in the block, androuting a block or a message derived from a block to the particular access point associated with a layer n+1 entity that belongs to the identified logical group and which processes the identified block type.
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Abstract
A method and arrangement for providing a layered communications environment for the routing of information blocks between layers to layer entities forming a logical group based on information block type and the function provided by the individual entities of the group. When an access point (AP) between layers, is first activated, it is given a group classification. As other APs between the layers are activated, they too are given group classifications. All APs between the layers having the same group classification are considered to form a single logical grouping of APs. Each of these APs can be attached to different entities in the adjacent upper layer. This logical grouping allows for information block routing from a lower layer to the adjacent upper layer based on both logical group and block type. The entities in the upper layer that are within one logical group may include separate entities for control and management functions and separate entities for data transport purposes.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. In a system arranged for providing communication services by means of a layered communication architecture having a plurality of layers l through m, wherein provider entities in layer n, where n equals 1 through m-1, may be attached to information block routing access points for the routing of blocks to entities in the adjacent upper layer n+1, a method of logically grouping some of the entities in layer n+1 with a provider entity in layer n, comprising the steps of
activating a plurality of block routing access points between an entity in layer n and a plurality of entities in layer n+1, assigning a group classification to each access point at the time of activation, wherein each unique group classification forms a logical grouping of layer n+1 entities, and identifying the type of information block that is processed by the layer n+1 entity associated with each access point, upon the receipt of each information block for routing upward in the layered architecture by the layer n entity, determining from the block the logical group for which the block is intended and the type of information contained in the block, and routing a block or a message derived from a block to the particular access point associated with a layer n+1 entity that belongs to the identified logical group and which processes the identified block type.
- 8. The method of claim 78 further comprising creating an access point control block in response to the receipt of each activate access point message by the layer n entity, and including the access point identification, group and layer n+1 entity type sending the activate access point message in the control block.
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14. In a system arranged for providing communication services by means of a layered communication architecture having a plurality of layers l through m, wherein provider entities in layer n, where n equals 1 through m-1, may be attached to information block routing access points for the routing of blocks to entities in the adjacent upper layer n+1, an arrangement for logically grouping some of the entities in layer n+1 with a provider entity inlayer n, comprising
means for activating a plurality of block routing access points between an entity in layer n and a plurality of entities in layer n+1, means for assigning a group classification to each access point at the time of activation, wherein each unique group classification forms a logical grouping of layer n+1 entities, and means for identifying the type of information block that is processed by the layer n+1 entity associated with each access point, upon the receipt of each information block for routing upward in the layered architecture by the layer n entity, means for determining from the block the logical group for which the block is intended and the type of information contained in the block, and means for routing the block or a message derived from the block to the particular access point associated with a layer n+1 entity that belongs to the identified logical group and which processes the identified block type or the derived message.
Specification