Communication network with non-unique device identifiers and method of establishing connection paths in such a network
First Claim
1. A communication network comprising:
- a service processor;
a plurality of terminal nodes; and
a network of switch nodes for switchably connecting the service processor to each terminal node by way of one or more connection paths, each switch node being connected to the service processor either directly or through one or more other switch nodes, each terminal node being connected to a switch node;
wherein each switch node and each terminal node has a device identification, at least two nodes having the same device identification, and wherein each switch node and each terminal node that shares a common device identification with another switch node or terminal node can be connected to the service processor by way of at least one connection path which does not include any other switch node or terminal node having the common device identification.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication network having a service processor, a plurality of terminal nodes, and a network of switch nodes for switchably connecting the service processor to each terminal node by way of one or more connection paths. Each switch node in the communication network is connected to the service processor either directly or through one or more other switch nodes. Each terminal node of the communication network is connected to a switch node. Each switch node and each terminal node has a device identification. At least two nodes have the same device identification. Each target node having the same device identification as another node can preferably be connected to the service processor by way of at least one connection path which does not include any other node having the same device identification as the target node. All switch nodes having the same minimum connection path length may, for example, have the same device identification.
23 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A communication network comprising:
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a service processor; a plurality of terminal nodes; and a network of switch nodes for switchably connecting the service processor to each terminal node by way of one or more connection paths, each switch node being connected to the service processor either directly or through one or more other switch nodes, each terminal node being connected to a switch node; wherein each switch node and each terminal node has a device identification, at least two nodes having the same device identification, and wherein each switch node and each terminal node that shares a common device identification with another switch node or terminal node can be connected to the service processor by way of at least one connection path which does not include any other switch node or terminal node having the common device identification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A communication network as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that each switch node and each terminal node comprises:
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an input for receiving electronic service instruction signals, each electronic service instruction signal containing a device identification signal; a device identification register containing the device identification of the node; and a comparison circuit for comparing the device identification signal of an electronic service instruction signal with the device identification stored in the device identification register. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A method of establishing a connection path from a source device to a target node in a communication network comprising:
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a source device; a plurality of terminal nodes, each terminal node having a device identification; and a network of switch nodes for switchably connecting the source device to each terminal node by way of one or more connection paths, each switch node being connected to the source device either directly or through one or more other switch nodes, each terminal node being connected to a switch node, each switch node having a device identification, at least two nodes having the same device identification; said method comprising the steps of; identifying one or more intermediate switch nodes along a connection path, from the source device to but not including the target node; sequentially forming a connection path from the source device to each identified intermediate switch node in an order from the identified intermediate switch node closest to the source device to the identified intermediate switch node farthest from the source device; and forming a connection path from the identified intermediate switch node farthest from the source device to the target node.
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12. A method of establishing a connection path from a source device to a plurality of target nodes in a communication network comprising:
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a source device; a plurality of terminal nodes, each terminal node having a device identification; and a network of switch nodes for switchably connecting the source device to each terminal node by way of one or more connection paths, each switch node being connected to the source device either directly or through one or more other switch nodes, each terminal node being connected to a switch node, each switch node having a device identification, at least two nodes having the same device identification; said method comprising the steps of; identifying one or more intermediate switch nodes along a plurality of connection paths from the source device to but not including the target nodes; sequentially forming a connection, path from each identified intermediate switch node to each target node in an order from the identified intermediate switch node farthest from the source device to the identified intermediate switch node closest to the source device. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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Specification