Network device location using multicast

• US 5,282,270 A
• Filed: 06/06/1990
• Issued: 01/25/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Findley, Sean J., Sidhu, Gursharan S., Oppenheimer, Alan B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Dale M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BARRY, LANCE LEONARD
• Application Number:
  US07/534,154
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200, 395/325, 395/700, 370/60, 370/94.1, 370/94.2, 370/94.3
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/18 for broadcast or conference , e.g. multicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4604 LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/745 Address table lookup; Address filtering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining the location of an entity using an alias (or entity name) in a communication system. A second node or entity transmits a first signal to a first router connected to a first local network of the communication system including the alias, wherein the alias includes a zone name. The first router forwards a second signal including the entity name from the first signal to other routers in the network until a second router connected to nodes having the zone name in the entity name is located. Each second router translates the second signal into a third signal which includes the alias, and using a first zone multicast address, multicasts the third signal to a first set of nodes. Each node of the first set of nodes determines whether the zone name contained within the alias is equal to a zone identifier for each node of the first set of nodes. Each node having the zone name determines whether the alias contained within the third signal is equal to alias information for the node. A first entity having the alias then transmits a fourth signal, which includes its network address, to the second entity in response to the third signal.

Claims

1. In a communication system for transferring data between a plurality of devices, a method for determining the location of a first entity on the communication system, comprising the steps of:

a. a second entity transmitting a first signal to a first routing means connected to a first local network of the communication system, wherein the first signal includes an alias, wherein the alias includes a zone name, and the first local network includes the second entity;

b. the first routing means translating the first signal into a second signal which includes the alias, and transmitting the second signal to at least one second routing means, each at least one second routing means coupled to at least one second local network of the communication system;

c. each at least one second routing means computing a second zone multicast address from said zone name, translating the second signal into a third signal which includes the alias, and the second zone multicast address, and transmitting the third signal to a first set of nodes, the first set of nodes comprising at least one first node, each node of the first set of nodes having a first zone multicast address, wherein the first zone multicast address is equivalent to the second zone multicast address;

d. each node of the first set of nodes determining whether the zone name contained within the alias is equal to a zone identifier contained in each node of the first set of nodes, the first set of nodes comprising a second set of nodes, each node of the second set of nodes having the zone identifier equal to the zone name contained within the alias

e. each node of the second set of nodes determining whether the alias contained within the third signal is equal to alias information contained within each node of the second set of nodes, the second set of nodes comprising the first entity, the first entity having an alias equal to the alias contained within the third signal; and

f. the first entity transmitting a fourth signal to the second entity, the fourth signal including the address of the first entity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication system comprises a an ETHERNET networking system.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication system comprises a token-ring networking system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication system comprises a fiber distributed data interchange networking system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the alias comprises an alphanumeric value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the alias further comprises a type and object portion.

7. In a communication system, a method for determining the network address of an entity having an entity name comprising the following steps:

a. a first entity transmitting a first signal to a first routing means connected to a first local network of the communication system, the first signal including said entity name, said entity name including a zone name;

b. said first routing means translating said first signal into a second signal, said second signal including said entity name, said first routing means further transmitting said second signal to a second routing means, said second routing means coupled to a second local network comprising said zone name;

c. said second routing means computing a zone multicast address from said zone name, translating said second signal into a third signal, said third signal including said entity name and said zone multicast address, and transmitting said third signal to a first set of nodes coupled to said second routing means, each first node of said first set of nodes comprising said zone multicast address, said first set of nodes comprising a second set of nodes, each second node of said second set of nodes having a zone identifier equal to said zone name of said entity name;

d. each first node of said first set of nodes receiving said third signal, determining whether said zone name of said entity name is equal to a zone identifier associated with said each first node, and taking no action if said entity name is not equal to a zone identifier associated with said each first node;

e. each second node of said second set of nodes determining whether said entity name is equal to a node entity name of said each second node, said second set of nodes comprising a second entity having a second node entity name equal to said entity name contained within said third signal, each second node taking no action if said node entity name is not equal to said entity name; and

f. said second entity transmitting a fourth signal to said first entity, and fourth signal including a network address of said second entity.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said communication system comprises an ETHERNET networking system.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said communication system comprises a token-ring networking system.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said communication system comprises a fiber distributed data interchange networking system.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said entity name comprises an alphanumeric value.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said step of computing said zone multicast address comprises performing a hashing function upon said zone name.

13. In a communication system, an apparatus for determining the network address of an entity having an entity name comprising:

a. a first entity including a means for transmitting a first signal to a first routing means connected to a first local network of the communication system, the first signal including said entity name, said entity name including a zone name;

b. said first routing means including means for translating said first signal into a second signal responsive to receipt of said first signal, said second signal including said entity name, said first routing means further including means for transmitting said second signal to a second routing means, said second routing means coupled to a second local network comprising said zone name;

c. said second routing means including means for computing a zone multicast address from said zone name responsive to receiving said second signal, means for translating said second signal into a third signal, said third signal including said entity name and said zone multicast address, and means for multicasting said third signal to a first set of nodes coupled to said second routing means, each first node of said first set of nodes comprising said zone multicast address, said first set of nodes comprising a second set of nodes, each second node of said second set of nodes having a zone identifier equal to said zone name of said entity name;

d. each first node of said first set of nodes comprising means for receiving said third signal and means for determining whether said zone name of said entity name is equal to a zone identifier associated with said each first node;

e. each second node of said second set of node comprising means for determining whether said entity name is equal to a node entity name of said each second node, said second set of nodes comprising a second entity having a second node entity name equal to said entity name contained within said third signal; and

f. said second entity comprising means for transmitting a fourth signal to said first entity responsive to said third signal, said fourth signal including a network address of said second entity.

14. In a communication system, a method for determining the network address of an entity having an entity name comprising the following steps:

a. a first entity broadcasting a first signal to at least one first routing means connected to a first local network of the communication system, the first signal including said entity name, said entity name including a zone name;

b. said at least one first routing means forwarding a second signal to at least one second routing means until a third routing means receives said second signal, said second signal comprising said entity name, said third routing means being coupled to entities having the zone indicated by said zone name of said entity name;

c. said third routing means computing a zone multicast address from said zone name in said second signal, generating a third signal from said second signal, said third signal including said entity name and said zone multicast address, and multicasting said third signal to a first set of nodes coupled to said third routing means, each first node of said first set of nodes comprising said zone multicast address, each first set of nodes comprising a second set of nodes, each second node of said second set of nodes having a zone identifier equal to said zone name of said entity name;

d. each first node of said first set of nodes receiving said third signal, determining whether said zone name of said entity name is equal to a zone identifier associated with said each first node, and taking no action if said entity name is not equal to a zone identifier associated with said each first node;

e. each second node of said second set of nodes determining whether said entity name is equal to a node entity name of said each second node, said second set of nodes comprising a second entity having a second node entity name equal to said entity name contained within said third signal, each second node taking no action if said node entity name is not equal to said entity name; and

f. said second entity transmitting a fourth signal to said first entity responsive to said third signal, said fourth signal including a network address of said second entity.