Active topology discovery in active networks
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a network, comprising:
- forming a first database that includes information about topology of devices connected in a network;
forming a second database on topology of only selected devices that have predetermined device attributes among the devices, the second database including at least a software configuration and a hardware configuration of the selected devices; and
combining the first and second databases to choose a selected device to perform a service when the service is installed in the selected device or to install the service in the selected device when the service is not installed in the network.
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Abstract
Techniques for operating a network by using a first database with topological information of linked devices and a second database with topological information, software resources, and available hardware resources of certain programmable devices to adapt to changes of the network.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for operating a network, comprising:
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forming a first database that includes information about topology of devices connected in a network;
forming a second database on topology of only selected devices that have predetermined device attributes among the devices, the second database including at least a software configuration and a hardware configuration of the selected devices; and
combining the first and second databases to choose a selected device to perform a service when the service is installed in the selected device or to install the service in the selected device when the service is not installed in the network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A network for information processing, comprising:
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communication links for transmitting communication signals;
a plurality of passive devices connected to said communication links to process said communication signals, said passive devices having services that cannot be modified while connected to said communication links;
a plurality of active devices connected to said communication links to process said communication signals, said active devices being programmable to perform an existing service and to install and perform a new service while being connected to said communication links; and
at least one active topology server connected to communicate with said passive and active devices and configured to maintain a first database with information about topology of said passive and active devices and a second database with information about topology, software and hardware configurations of only said active devices, wherein said active topology server combines and uses said first and second databases to select a desired active device based on its network location, software, and hardware to perform a service when said service is installed in said desired active device and to install said service in said desired active device when said service is not installed in any of said active devices. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for operating a network, comprising:
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forming a first database having information about topology of devices connected in a network;
forming a second database to include information about topology, installed software, and hardware resources of only active devices which are programmable to perform an existing service and to install and perform a new service while connected to the network;
determining whether a service is installed in one or more of the active devices when the service is requested to be performed on a target device in the network;
selecting a suitable active device which has the service installed to perform the service when the service is installed; and
installing the service in at least one active device when the service is not available at a time of the request, wherein either of an active device for performing the service and an active device for installing the service is selected according to a property of at least one path from the active device to the target device and hardware resources available for performing the service based on the first and second databases. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
establishing communication with each active device;
creating new entries for an active device which is not in the second database;
retrieving data on link paths, installed software, and hardware information from each active device; and
entering received data in respective entries of the second database.
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17. A method as in claim 15, wherein the suitable active device for performing the service is selected by:
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searching the second database for an optimized active device that has a link to the target device which is optimized according to a link parameter that indicates a status of the link;
determining whether the optimized active device has sufficient hardware resources available for performing the service when the optimized active device is found; and
searching the second database for a substitute active device that has sufficient resources for performing the service when the optimized active device is not found or when the optimized active device does not have sufficient hardware resources for performing the service.
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18. A method as in claim 15, wherein the first database is formed by receiving communication signals from all devices in the network based on a routing protocol.
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19. A method as in claim 18, wherein the network is based on the Internet Protocol and the routing protocol is the Open Shortest Path First protocol.
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20. A method as in claim 15, wherein the property of the at least one path includes latency, throughput, hop count, cost, reliability, or security of the path.
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21. A computer in a network having a storage device containing executable routines that, when executed by a computer processor, causes the computer to:
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form a first database that includes information about topology of devices connected in a network;
form a second database on topology of only selected devices that have predetermined device attributes among the devices, the second database including at least a software configuration and a hardware configuration of the selected devices; and
combine the first and second databases to choose a selected device to perform a service when the service is installed in the selected device or to install the service in the selected device when the service is not installed in the network. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23)
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24. A machine-readable medium having thereon instructions which are executable by a processor of a machine to cause the machine to:
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form a first database that includes information about topology of devices connected in a network;
form a second database on topology of only selected devices that have predetermined device attributes among the devices, the second database including at least a software configuration and a hardware configuration of the selected devices; and
combine the first and second databases to choose a selected device to perform a service when the service is installed in the selected device or to install the service in the selected device when the service is not installed in the network.
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Specification