Method for providing for automatic topology discovery in an ATM network or the like

• US 5,583,991 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Constellation Technologies LLC (Rockstar Consortium Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bay Networks, Inc. (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Chatwani, Dilip, Subramanian, Rajan, Chiang, Winnis, Davar, Jonathan, Opher, Ayal, Sawant, Shiva
• Primary Examiner(s): Coleman, Eric
• Application Number:
  US08/473,139
• Time in Patent Office: 552 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.01, 395/800, 395/200.15, 370/60
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5619 Network Node Interface, e.g. tandem connections, transit switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5626 Network management, e.g. Intelligent nets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/32 Specific management aspects for broadband networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/02 Topology update or discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/10 Routing in connection-oriented networks, e.g. X.25 or ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/105 ATM switching elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/255 Control mechanisms for ATM switching fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/50 Overload detection or protection within a single switching element
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/10 of different types
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5061 Pools of addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5076 Update or notification mechanisms, e.g. DynDNS
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like employing a method and apparatus for automatically determining the topology of the network is described. The method and apparatus provides for each switch in the network transmitting on each of its ports link advertisement messages (without processing intervention by intermediate switches). The link advertisement messages are received by neighbor switches and forwarded to a topology manager. The topology manager constructs network topology profile information based on received link advertisement messages. Further, the topology manager is able to verify bidirection links based on the received link advertisement messages.

Claims

1. A method for communicating topology information in an ATM network, said method comprising the steps of:

a) a device transmitting an ATM cell to a fast switch;

b) said ATM cell being received by a first switch on a first port of said first switch;

c) said ATM cell being translated by switch fabric of said first switch to provide location identifying information identifying the location of said device in said network;

d) said fast switch forwarding said ATM cell to a central manager.

2. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein said location information includes information identifying said first switch and said first port.

3. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein said information identifying said first switch identifies a virtual service path of said first switch.

4. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein said information identifying said first switch is stored in a VPI field of said ATM cell.

5. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein said information identifying said first port is a port number.

6. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein said information identifying said first port is stored in a VCI field of said ATM cell.

7. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein said ATM cell is forwarded to said central manager over a virtual service path.

8. The method as recited by claim 1 wherein said device is a second switch.