Network communication system where each system shares definition information with each other

• US 5,896,510 A
• Filed: 01/27/1997
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kanayama, Hidehiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Zarni
• Application Number:
  US08/789,687
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200.1, 395/200.11, 395/284, 395/200.02, 395/200.03, 395/200.58, 395/200.3, 395/200.59, 395/200.56, 395/200.55, 395/200.61 , 395/200.68, 395/200.78
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

In a network communication system enabling copying and mutual reflection of definition information among a plurality of systems interconnected over a backbone network, each of the plurality of systems has a host control unit for transferring definition information for communication with other system and manipulating received definition information, and a database for storing manipulated definition information. The host control unit includes an element for acquiring predefined network definition information for use in communication intended for copying, an element for copying definition information from a distributor-side system for distributing definition information, an element for referencing the copied definition information so as to specify a connection form of a communication resource governed by said distributor-side system, and an element for using the acquired network definition information to set communication path information concerning the distributor-side system in the copied definition information according to the specified connection form of a communication resource. Definition information manipulated by these elements is stored in the distributor-side system. Communication with the distributor-side system is effected based on the definition information. This configuration enables one system to share network definition information with other systems and permits reduction of a load of system management resulting from modification of definition information. The above network operation mode can apply to any network constructed to have a network topology of a LAN, WAN, or the like.

Claims

1. A method for interconnecting a plurality of systems over a backbone network sharing network definition information with other systems, comprising:

storing process definition information in a database;

acquiring network definition information for copying from either the database or one of the other systems;

copying system definition information from and defined for a distributor system, as copied definition information to be defined for a copier system;

specifying a connection form of a communication resource governed by the distributor system and having a reference in the copied definition information, by judging a classification of the communication resource governed by the distributor system;

setting communication path information for the distributor system into the copied definition information to obtain revised definition information stored in the database, according to the connection form of the communication resource modified for the copier system based on a result of said judging and the network definition information; and

communicating between the copier system and the distributor system based on the revised definition information.

2. The method for interconnecting a plurality of systems over a backbone network according to claim 1, wherein when the result of said judging indicates that the communication resource governed by the distributor system is regarded as part of the distributor system, said setting of the communication path information includes setting the communication path information included in the network definition information as the communication path information for the copier system.

3. The method for interconnecting a plurality of systems over a backbone network according to claim 1, wherein when the result of said judging indicates that the communication resource governed by the distributor system is connected to the distributor system over a local or wide area network, said setting of the communication path information includes setting relay communication path information, indicating that the distributor system is a relay system, into the copied definition information.

4. The method of interconnecting a plurality of systems over a backbone network according to claim 1, further comprising storing the network definition information and the copied definition information.

5. A method for interconnecting a plurality of systems over a backbone network sharing network definition information with other systems, comprising:

storing process definition information in a database;

acquiring network definition information for copying from either the database or one of the other systems;

copying system definition information from and defined for a distributor system, as copied definition information to be defined for a copier system;

specifying a connection form of a communication resource governed by the distributor system and having a reference in the copied definition information;

setting communication path information for the distributor system into the copied definition information to obtain revised definition information stored in the database, according to the connection form of the communication resource modified for the copier system based on the network definition information; and

controlling communication including transmission and reception of the network definition information, and said acquiring of the network definition information for copying from the distributor system by way of a communication control unit upon receipt of a request for a start of a communication from the distributor system.