Packet data communications system having a malfunction list
First Claim
1. A packet switching method comprising the steps of:
- detecting in a node in a transmission path from a first user of a packet switching network to a second user a state of unavailability of the second user;
storing in the node a value representing the state of unavailability of the second user; and
selectively returning a packet received from the first user and addressed to the second user to said first user from the node based on the value representing the state of unavailability of the second user.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A packet switching network having a malfunction list is provided to reduce network congestion. According to an exemplary embodiment, each node in the network includes a malfunction list which stores an unavailability value representing a state of unavailability of certain addressees in the network. Before sending a packet to an addressee, the node consults its own malfunction list to determine the unavailability value of the addressee. A packet addressed to an unavailable addressee is selectively returned to the sender by the node rather than travelling through the network to the addressee and back through the network to the sender. Packets can be returned to the sender with a probability proportional to the unavailability value of the addressee so that transmission is gradually resumed after a state of unavailability as the unavailability value decreases over time.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A packet switching method comprising the steps of:
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detecting in a node in a transmission path from a first user of a packet switching network to a second user a state of unavailability of the second user; storing in the node a value representing the state of unavailability of the second user; and selectively returning a packet received from the first user and addressed to the second user to said first user from the node based on the value representing the state of unavailability of the second user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 32)
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10. A packet switching apparatus comprising:
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a first node and a second node which transmit and receive packets in a transmission path between a first user and a second user; a control processor which detects in the first node a state of unavailability of the second user; a memory for storing in the first node a value representing the state of unavailability of the second user; and wherein the control processor selectively returns to the first user a packet received from the first user and addressed to the second user based on the value representing the state of unavailability of the second user stored in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 33)
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19. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving at a first node a packet from a first party to be transmitted to a second party; recalling at the first node a value stored in the first node which represents a state of unavailability of the second party; and selectively returning the packet to the first party from the first node based on the value stored in the first node which represents the state of unavailability of the second party. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A packet switching network comprising:
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a plurality of source nodes which form a first level in a hierarchy of the packet switching network, each of the source nodes including; means for detecting a state of unavailability of an addressee; a memory for storing a value representing the state of unavailability of the addressee detected by the detecting means; and means for selectively returning a packet addressed to the addressee based on the value representing the state of unavailability of the addressee stored in the memory; and a plurality of intermediate nodes, connected to the source nodes, which form a second level in the hierarchy of the packet switching network. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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Specification