Method for determining the topology of a mixed-media network
First Claim
1. A method for determining a global topology of a global network, the method comprising the steps of:
- partitioning the global network into a plurality of spheres;
determining interconnections between devices within each sphere of said plurality of spheres;
determining intersections between said plurality of spheres; and
determining said global topology based on said interconnections between devices within each sphere of said plurality of spheres and said intersections between said spheres.
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Abstract
A method for determining the topology of a mixed-media network is provided. According to the method, the network is divided into communities of devices that support a common topology mechanism ("spheres"). On each sphere, one or more sphere topology agents generate and accumulate topology data for the devices on the sphere using the topology mechanism that is supported by the devices within the sphere. A global topology agent collects the topology data for each sphere from the various sphere agents and assembles the data to determine the global topology of the mixed-media network. The global topology agent begins by collecting data from a current sphere and identifies additional spheres based on data stored in boundary devices within the current sphere. The global topology agent then repeats the same process with the additional spheres until topology data has been collected from all of the spheres in the mixed-media network.
86 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method for determining a global topology of a global network, the method comprising the steps of:
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partitioning the global network into a plurality of spheres; determining interconnections between devices within each sphere of said plurality of spheres; determining intersections between said plurality of spheres; and determining said global topology based on said interconnections between devices within each sphere of said plurality of spheres and said intersections between said spheres. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for determining interconnections between devices within a mixed-media network, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying a first set of devices which implement a first topology mechanism; determining interconnections between the devices in said first set of devices using said first topology mechanism; identifying one or more boundary devices that belong to said first set of devices; identifying, based on information stored in said one or more boundary devices, one or more other sets of devices which implement topology mechanisms that are different from said first topology mechanism; and determining interconnections between devices in said one or more other sets of devices using topology mechanisms implemented by said one or more other sets of devices. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification