Packet routing system and method with quasi-real-time control
First Claim
1. A method of routing data packets among nodes of a communication system, said nodes coupled to each other by links wherein each of said nodes have a plurality of routing tables stored therein and a mapping table stored therein, said mapping table referring to one of said plurality of routing tables for each of a plurality of routing table identifiers, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving mapping table control bits at one of said nodes;
updating said mapping table using said mapping table control bits, the updating step causing said mapping table to reference other routing tables for each of said routing table identifiers;
receiving a data packet at said one of said nodes, said data packet including one of said routing table identifiers;
reading a destination routing code and said routing table identifier from said data packet;
identifying one routing table of said plurality of routing tables by indexing said mapping table using said routing table identifier;
indexing said one routing table based on said destination routing code to determine an exit link; and
routing said data packet away from said one of said nodes over said exit link.
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Abstract
In a system that includes a constellation of satellite communication nodes, information packets are routed through the constellation using routing tables stored in each communication node. When a packet is received at a node, the packet'"'"'s destination and routing table ID are read. One of several routing tables are selected using a mapping table. Each of the several routing tables has a different routing instruction set. The packet is routed away from the node using the selected routing table. When system traffic is heavy, or some of the communication links are overloaded or have failed, routing table control bits are sent to the nodes updating the mapping table. Packets are subsequently routed using different sets of routing tables, such as ones having greater hop counts.
80 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of routing data packets among nodes of a communication system, said nodes coupled to each other by links wherein each of said nodes have a plurality of routing tables stored therein and a mapping table stored therein, said mapping table referring to one of said plurality of routing tables for each of a plurality of routing table identifiers, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving mapping table control bits at one of said nodes; updating said mapping table using said mapping table control bits, the updating step causing said mapping table to reference other routing tables for each of said routing table identifiers; receiving a data packet at said one of said nodes, said data packet including one of said routing table identifiers; reading a destination routing code and said routing table identifier from said data packet; identifying one routing table of said plurality of routing tables by indexing said mapping table using said routing table identifier; indexing said one routing table based on said destination routing code to determine an exit link; and routing said data packet away from said one of said nodes over said exit link. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A communication system that routes data packets comprising:
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a plurality of nodes, each node of said plurality having a memory for storing a plurality of routing tables and a mapping table therein, said mapping table referring to one of said plurality of routing tables for each of a plurality of routing table identifiers; communication links coupling said nodes; a first transceiver associated with each of said nodes for receiving mapping table control bits; a processor associated with each of said nodes with means for updating said mapping table using said mapping table control bits, the processor causing said mapping table to reference other routing tables for each of said routing table identifiers; and a second transceiver associated with each of said nodes for reading a destination routing code and said routing table identifier from said data packets, wherein said processor has means for identifying one routing table of said plurality of routing tables by indexing said mapping table using said routing table identifier and said destination routing code to determine an exit link, said exit link being one of said communication links, and wherein said second transceiver routes said data packets away from one of said nodes over said exit link. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of routing data packets among nodes of a communication system, each of said nodes having a mapping table and a plurality of routing tables stored therein, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving mapping table control bits at one of said nodes, said mapping table control bits causing said mapping table to reference particular routing tables of said plurality of routing tables for a plurality of routing table identifiers; updating said mapping tables using said mapping table control bits, the updating step causing said mapping tables to reference other routing tables for each of said routing table identifiers; reading a destination routing code and one of said routing table identifiers from a data packet; identifying one routing table of said plurality of routing tables by indexing said mapping table using said one of said routing table identifiers; identifying an exit link by indexing said one routing table based on said destination routing code; and routing said data packet away from said one of said nodes over said exit link.
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Specification