Self-configuring ATM network
First Claim
1. A method for sharing topology information in a self-configuring ATM network, comprising:
- interconnecting n switches, where n is an integer greater than two;
on a first of said n switches, receiving a first set of topology messages from a set of neighboring switches, said first set of topology messages encoded with related pairs of switch identifiers and path cost information for particular ones of said n switches;
on said first switch, after receiving said first set of topology messages, generating and forwarding a second set of topology messages to said set of neighboring switches, said second set of topology messages encoded with related pairs of switch identifiers, VLAN information and path cost information for particular ones of said n switches, including at least related pairs of switch identifiers and path cost information for said first switch and said particular ones of said n switches included in said first set of topology messages.
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Abstract
Methods for configuring, maintaining connectivity in and utilizing an ATM network. Neighboring switches share topology information and enable links to neighboring switches for tag switching. Point-to-point tagged virtual connections are established between switches on the best and next-best paths learned from topology information. Point-to-multipoint tagged virtual connections are established on the spanning tree path. Multiple tag allocation requests are included in a single message to preserve bandwidth. Next-best paths are established to reduce latency in event of link failure. Forwarding operations may be performed in hardware to reduce latency during message forwarding.
119 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for sharing topology information in a self-configuring ATM network, comprising:
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interconnecting n switches, where n is an integer greater than two; on a first of said n switches, receiving a first set of topology messages from a set of neighboring switches, said first set of topology messages encoded with related pairs of switch identifiers and path cost information for particular ones of said n switches; on said first switch, after receiving said first set of topology messages, generating and forwarding a second set of topology messages to said set of neighboring switches, said second set of topology messages encoded with related pairs of switch identifiers, VLAN information and path cost information for particular ones of said n switches, including at least related pairs of switch identifiers and path cost information for said first switch and said particular ones of said n switches included in said first set of topology messages. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for configuring a point-to-point tagged virtual connection in a self-configuring ATM network, comprising:
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(a) interconnecting a switches and a destination switch, where a is an integer greater than one, said a switches including a source switch and b intermediate switches, said b intermediate switches residing in succession on an enabled path between said source switch and said destination switch, where b is a positive integer and where c is initially equal to b minus one; (b) on said a switches, determining the dth best path to said destination switch, where d is a positive integer; (c) on said source switch, generating and forwarding to a first intermediate switch on the dth best path from said source switch to said destination switch a first tag allocation request including as a related pair an identifier of said destination switch and a first tag value; (d) if b is greater than one, on a (b-c)th intermediate switch, upon receiving a (b-c)th tag allocation request, generating and forwarding to a (b-c+1)th intermediate switch on the dth best path from said (b-c)th intermediate switch to said destination switch a (b-c+1)th tag allocation request including said identifier of said destination switch and a (b-c+1)th tag value as a related pair; (e) if b is greater than one, subtracting one from c and repeating step (d) unless c equals zero; (f) on said bth intermediate switch, generating and forwarding to said destination switch on the dth best path from said bth intermediate switch to said destination switch a (b+1)th tag allocation request including as a related pair said identifier of said destination switch and a (b+1)th tag value. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for configuring a point-to-multipoint tagged virtual connection in a self-configuring ATM network, comprising:
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(a) interconnecting a switches and a set of destination switches, where a is an integer greater than one, said a switches including a source switch and b sets of intermediate switches, said b sets of intermediate switches residing in succession on a set of enabled paths between said source switch and said sets of destination switches, where b is a positive integer and where c is initially equal to b minus one, said set of destination switches sharing a VLAN with said source switch; (b) on said a switches, determining the spanning tree path to said set of destination switches; (c) on said source switch, generating and forwarding to a first set of intermediate switches on the spanning tree path a first set of tag allocation requests including as a related pair an identifier of said shared VLAN and a first set of tag values; (d) if b is greater than one, on said (b-c)th set of intermediate switches, upon receiving a (b-c)th set of tag allocation requests, generating and forwarding to a (b-c+1)th set of intermediate switches on the spanning tree path a (b-c+1)th set of tag allocation requests including as related pairs said identifier of said shared VLAN and a (b-c+1)th set of tag values; (e) if b is greater than one, subtracting one from c and repeating step (d) unless c equals zero; (f) on said bth set of intermediate switches, generating and forwarding to said set of destination switches on the spanning tree path a set of (b+1)th tag allocation requests including as related pairs said identifier of said shared VLAN and a set of (b+1)th tag values. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for forwarding an end-user message on a point-to-point virtual connection in a self-configuring ATM network, comprising:
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(a) interconnecting a switches and a destination switch, where a is an integer greater than one, said a switches including a source switch and b intermediate switches, said b intermediate switches residing in succession on an enabled path between said source switch and said destination switch, where b is a positive integer, and where c is initially equal to b minus one; (b) on said source switch, receiving said end-user message, said end-user message having a payload and destination information; (c) on said source switch, resolving said destination information to a forwarding ATM port identifier and a first tag value associated with the dth best path from said source switch to said destination switch, where d is initially one; (d) on said source switch, encoding said end-user message with said first tag value and forwarding said end-user message to a first intermediate switch on the dth best path from said first intermediate switch to said destination switch; (e) if b is greater than one, on a (b-c)th intermediate switch, upon receiving said end-user message encoded with a (b-c)th tag value, for encoding said end-user message with a (b-c+1)th tag value and forwarding said end-user message to a (b-c+1)th intermediate switch on the dth best path from said (b-c)th intermediate switch to said destination switch; (f) if b is greater than one, subtracting one from c and repeating step (e) unless c equals zero; (g) on said bth intermediate switch, upon receiving said end-user message encoded with a bth tag value, for encoding said end-user message with a (b+1)th tag value and forwarding said message to said destination switch on the dth best path from said bth intermediate switch to said destination switch. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification