Method and system for integration of several physical media for data communications between two computing systems in a manner transparent to layer #;3 and above of the ISO OSI model

• US 6,377,992 B1
• Filed: 10/23/1997
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Carlos Zamora, Garcia Gómez, Francisco Manuel, Guzmán, José Ignacio, Jaime Aguilar Ruiz, Macarrón Larumbe, Alejandro, Merchán Sanzano, Ramón, Plaza Fernández, José Fabián
• Original Assignee: Carlos Zamora, Garcia Gómez, Francisco Manuel, Guzmán, José Ignacio, Jaime Aguilar Ruiz, Macarrón Larumbe, Alejandro, Merchán Sanzano, Ramón, Plaza Fernández, José Fabián
• Inventors: Zamora, Carlos, Garcia Gómez, Francisco Manuel, Plaza Fernández, José Fabián, Aguilar Ruiz, Jaime, Macarrón Larumbe, Alejandro, Guzmán, José Ignacio, Merchán Sanzano, Ramón
• Primary Examiner(s): Muang, Zarni
• Assistant Examiner(s): CALDWELL, ANDREW T
• Application Number:
  US08/956,562
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227-228, 709/321, 709/324, 709/327, 709/250, 370/463
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/324 in the data link layer [OSI layer 2], e.g. HDLC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and apparatus implements bi-directional communications using the same or different physical media linking any two computing systems, nodes, employing routable protocols such as TCP/IP, IPX/SPX, etc., connected to a common network, allowing bi-directional communication between them. One of the physical media preferably has a wider bandwidth in one direction than another one of the physical media operating in the other direction. The present invention also provides for optimizing traffic between any two nodes by appropriately selecting communication paths based on either bandwidth or costs. Communication between any two nodes can be split between several different physical or logical paths to either increase the effective transmission bandwidth or to provide communication redundancy. A method and system implements an Integrated Virtual Interface (IVI) which combines in a single virtual interface at least two physical interfaces per communication node (one for each communication direction) in a transparent manner such that operations of level #3 and above in the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model for data communication protocols and the levels above #3 function as if a single bi-directional communication interface exists while the lower OSI levels #1 and #2 maintain all their standard functionality.

Claims

1. In an apparatus for executing bi-directional communication with another apparatus wherein the apparatus has a processor and memory configured to execute operations in accordance with the ISO OSI model for data communications including network layer means for executing a network layer set of operations for communicating over a single physical link and a data link layer means for executing a set of data link operations in response to said network layer set of operations, each in accordance with the ISO OSI model, the improvements comprising:

a first network interface card for communicating data over a first physical link connected with said another apparatus in a first direction to said another apparatus;

said data link layer means including a first data link driver means for controlling said first network interface card;

a second network interface card for communicating data over a second physical link connected with said another apparatus in a second direction from said another apparatus;

said data link means including a second data link driver means for controlling said second network interface card;

first interfacing means for receiving output data from said network layer set of operations to be transmitted in said first direction associated with a unique address and for controlling said data link layer means to effect transmission of said output data via said first network interface card; and

second interfacing means for receiving input data from said data link operations which is transmitted in said second direction and received by said second network interface card for transferring said input data to said network layer set of operations in association with only said unique address.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first network interface card performs bi-directional communications over said first physical link.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 where said first and second interfacing means communicate with said network layer means via said data link layer means.

4. In a apparatus for executing bi-directional communication with another apparatus wherein the apparatus has a processor and memory configured to execute operations in accordance with ISO OSI model for data communications including network layer means for executing a network layer set of operations for communicating over a single physical link to a unique address and a data link layer means for executing a set of data link operations in response to said network layer set of operations, said data link layer means including a logical link controller means for performing logical link operations and a media access control means for performing media access operations which are configured to interface with each other, each in accordance with the ISO OSI model, the improvements comprising:

a first network interface card for communicating data over a first physical link connected with said another apparatus in a first direction to said another apparatus;

said media access control means including a first data link driver means for controlling said first network interface card;

a second network interface card for communicating data over a second physical link connected with said anther apparatus in a second direction from said another apparatus;

said media access control means including a second data link driver means for controlling said second network interface card;

intermediate interfacing means for interfacing with said logical link controller means in place of said media access control means and exchanging data in association with said unique address, and for interfacing with said first and second data link driver means and exchanging said data with said first and second data link driver means such that said logical link controller means performs logical link operations associated only with said unique address.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first network interface card performs bi-directional communications over said first physical link.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising:

said first network interface card including means for performing bi-directional communications over said first physical link;

initiation means for initiating bi-directional communication with said another apparatus via said first network interface card and instructing said another apparatus to initiate communication via said second physical link and said second network interface card; and

communication control means, responsive to establishment of said communication via said second physical link and said second network interface card, for conducting unidirectional communication sending data to said another apparatus using said first network interface card.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising backup means for reestablishing bi-directional communication with said another apparatus using said first network interface card and said first physical link when said communication via said second physical link and said second network interface card fails.

8. In an apparatus for executing bi-directional communication with another apparatus wherein the apparatus has a processor and memory configured to execute operations in accordance with the ISO OSI model for data communications including network layer means for executing a network layer set of operations for communicating over a single physical link to a unique address and a data link layer means for executing a set of data link operations in response to said network layer set of operations, the data link layer means including a logical link controller means for performing logical link operations and a media access control means for performing media access operations which are configured to interface with each other, each in accordance with the ISO OSI model, the improvements comprising:

a first network interface card for communicating data over a first physical link connected with said another apparatus in a first direction to said another apparatus;

said media access control means including a first data link driver means for controlling said first network interface card;

a second network interface card for communicating data over a second physical link connected with said another apparatus in a second direction from said another apparatus.

said media access control means including a second data link driver means for controlling said second network interface card;

first intermediate interfacing means for interfacing with said logical link controller means in place of said media access control means and exchanging data in association with said unique address; and

second intermediate interfacing means for interfacing with said first and second data link driver means and exchanging said data with said first and second data link driver means respectively at first and second real addresses, said second intermediate interfacing means including means for interfacing with said first intermediate interfacing means to said unique address.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first interfacing means performs media access control operations and said second interfacing means performs logical link operations.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said first network interface card performs bi-directional communications over said first physical link.

11. In an apparatus for executing bi-directional communication with another apparatus wherein the apparatus has a processor and memory and the apparatus is configured to execute operations in accordance with the ISO OSI model for data communications including network layer means for executing a network layer set of operations for communicating over a single physical link and a data link layer means for executing a set of data link operations in response to aid operations of said network layer means, the data link layer means including a logical link controller means for performing logical link operations having lower 2.2 sublayer interface and said data link layer means including a media access control means for performing media access operations having an up er 2.1 sublayer interface, each in accordance with the ISO OSI model, the improvements consisting of:

a first network interface card for communicating data over a first physical link connected with said another apparatus in a first direction to said another apparatus;

said media access control means including a first data link driver means for controlling said first network interface card;

a second network interface card for communicating data over a second physical link connected with said a other apparatus in a second direction from said another apparatus;

said media access control means including a second data link driver means for controlling said second network interface card;

first intermediate interfacing means having an upper 2.1 sublayer interface for interfacing with said lower 2.2 sublayer interface of said logical link controller means in place of said media access control means and exchanging data in association with only one unique address; and

second intermediate interfacing means having a lower 2.2 sublayer interface for interfacing with said upper 2.1 sublayer interface of said media access control means to communicate with said first and second data link driver means and exchange said a with said first and second data link driver means in association with respective ones of first and second real addresses, said second intermediate interfacing means including means for interfacing with said first intermediate interfacing means.