System for communicating data in a network using both a daisy chain link and separate broadcast links

• US 5,761,433 A
• Filed: 07/31/1996
• Issued: 06/02/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Roger E. Billings
• Original Assignee: Roger E. Billings
• Inventors: Billings, Roger E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Richard L.
• Application Number:
  US08/690,673
• Time in Patent Office: 671 Days
• Field of Search: 370/364, 370/365, 395/200.81, 395/200.6, 395/200.61, 395/182.04, 395/311
• US Class Current: 709/231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/44 Star or tree networks

Abstract

A plurality of workstations are sequentially connected to form a chain of workstations in a network having two file servers. The workstations generate data packets for delivery to the file servers. A packet assembly channel receives data packets from the workstations and routes the received data packets through the workstations to a workstation broadcast unit. The workstation broadcast unit broadcasts data packets from the workstations to the file servers via a workstation broadcast channel. Both of the file servers receive data from the workstation broadcast channel and generate data packets for delivery to the workstations. A server broadcast unit is connected to each of the file servers and broadcasts data packets from the file servers to the workstations on separate server broadcast channels.

Claims

1. A method for mirroring two file servers in a client/server network including a plurality of workstations connected in a chain beginning with a first workstation and ending with a last workstation, the method comprising the steps of:

a) sequentially routing data issued by any of the workstations through the last workstation;

b) broadcasting data sequentially routed through the last workstation to each of the file servers;

c) generating the same data by each of the file servers; and

d) broadcasting the generated data on separate broadcast channels to each of the workstations.

2. A method for communicating data in a network including a plurality of workstations and at least two file servers, the plurality of workstations being connected in a chain beginning with a first workstation and ending with a last workstations, the method comprising the steps of:

a) sequentially routing data issued by any of the workstations through the last workstation;

b) broadcasting data sequentially routed through the last workstation to each of the file servers; and

c) broadcasting data issued by each of the file servers to each of the workstations on a broadcast channel separate from each of the broadcast channels broadcasting data issued by the other file servers.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

detecting data at each of the workstations which are intended for delivery to that workstation; and

delivering the detected data to the workstation.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein step (c) comprises the steps of:

merging data issued by each of the file servers with the data sequentially routed through the last workstations; and

broadcasting merged data from each of the file servers to each of the workstations on a broadcast channel separate from each of the broadcast channels broadcasting merged data from the other file servers.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

generating the same data at each of the file servers.

6. A computer network with mirrored servers comprising:

a) a first file server capable of generating addressed data packets;

b) a second file server capable of generating addressed data packets;

c) a plurality of workstations each having a unique address and being capable of generating addressed data packets, each of said workstations including;

(1) a packet assembly input for receiving addressed data packets from another workstation;

(2) a packet assembly output for delivering addressed data packets to another workstation;

(3) a first server broadcast input for receiving addressed data packets from said first file server;

(4) a second server broadcast input for receiving addressed data packets from said second file server; and

(5) a interface connected to said packet assembly input, said packet assembly output, said first server broadcast input, and said second server broadcast input, said interface for;

(a) merging addressed data packets received at said packet assembly input with addressed data packets generated by said workstation into a stream of workstation-addressed data packets;

(b) delivering said stream of workstation-addressed data packets to said packet assembly output;

(c) detecting addressed data packets from either said first server broadcast input or said second server broadcast input which bear the unique address of said workstation; and

(d) delivering said detected packets to said workstation for further processing;

each of said file servers including;

(1) a workstation broadcast input for receiving a stream of workstation-addressed data packets;

(2) a server broadcast output for delivering addressed data packets generated by said file server to each of said workstations; and

(3) a interface connected to said workstation broadcast input and said server broadcast output, said interface for;

(a) receiving the stream of workstation-addressed data packets from said workststation broadcast input;

(b) delivering said stream of workstation-addressed data packets to said file server;

(c) receiving addressed data packets from said file server; and

(d) providing said addressed data packets to said server broadcast output;

d) a packet assembly channel for assembling addressed data packets generated by all of said workstations, said packet assembly channel connecting each of said workstations together in a sequential chain beginning with a first of said workstations and ending with a last of said workstations, said chain being formed by connecting the packet assembly output of each of said workstations, except the last of said workstations, to the packet assembly input of the next workstation in sequence through a packet communication connection;

e) a workstation broadcast channel consisting of a packet communication connection between the packet assembly output of the last of said workstations and the workstation broadcast input of each of said file servers;

f) a first server broadcast channel consisting of a packet communication connection between the server broadcast output of said first file server and the first server broadcast input of each of said workstations; and

g) a second server broadcast channel consisting of a packet communication connection between the server broadcast output of said second file server and the second server broadcast input of each of said workstations.

7. A hub for communicating addressed data packets among a plurality of workstations and two file servers a network via communication media, the plurality of workstations and file servers being capable of generating addressed data packets intended for delivery to a workstation on the network, the communication media including a packet reception channel, a workstation broadcast channel, a first server broadcast channel, and a second server broadcast channel, said hub comprising:

a) a sequential interface for sequentially routing addressed data packets through the plurality of workstations and through a last workstation via the packet reception channel, the sequential interface including;

(1) a plurality of inputs each for receiving, via the packet reception channel, addressed data packets from a workstation in the network; and

(2) a plurality of outputs each for providing, via the packet reception channel, addressed data packets to a workstation in the network;

b) a workstation broadcast interface for broadcasting addressed data packets generated by the plurality of workstations to both file servers via the workstation broadcast channel, the broadcast interface including a workstation broadcast output connected to the sequential interface for receiving addressed data packets which have been sequentially routed through the last workstation, and for transmitting, via the workstation broadcast channel, said received addressed data packets to both of the file servers;

c) a first server broadcast interface for broadcasting addressed data packets generated by a first of the file servers to the plurality of workstations via the first server broadcast channel, the first server broadcast interface including;

(1) a first server broadcast input connected to the first file server for receiving addressed data packets generated by the first file server; and

(2) a first server broadcast output connected to the first server broadcast input for transmitting, via the first server broadcast channel, addressed data packets received at the first server broadcast input to the plurality of workstations; and

d) a second server broadcast interface for broadcasting addressed data packets generated by a second of the file servers to the plurality of workstations via the second server broadcast channel, the second server broadcast interface including;

(1) a second server broadcast input connected to the second file server for receiving addressed data packets generated by the second file server; and

(2) a second server broadcast output connected to the second server broadcast input or transmitting, via the second server broadcast channel, addressed data packets received at the second server broadcast input to the plurality of workstations.