Method and apparatus for transaction routing in a connection-oriented packet network using a non-fault-tolerant directory server

• US 6,665,730 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1999
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Michelson, Steven M., Ratcliffe, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): Qureshi, Shabana
• Application Number:
  US09/464,398
• Time in Patent Office: 1,461 Days
• Field of Search: 709/245, 709/238, 709/241, 709/244, 709/230, 709/229, 709/218, 709/219, 370/260
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/10 Routing in connection-oriented networks, e.g. X.25 or ATM

Abstract

A transaction-based routing system applies particular routing procedures wherein one example uses Global Title Translation (“GTT”) techniques for a connection-oriented packet network. The network comprises a plurality of nodes including intermediate and edge nodes. Initially, intermediate nodes in the network receive data messages including originating node identifiers and first translation requests from originating edge nodes and route these messages, based on the first translation requests, over selected network routing paths to destination edge nodes. In response, intermediate nodes receive response data messages including the originating node identifiers and second translation requests from destination edge nodes and route these response messages, based on the second translation requests, over selected network routing paths to the originating nodes. These routing procedures help reduce the complexity of logical connectivity in the network.

Claims

1. A method for routing data packets within a packet network, comprising:

receiving a data message from an originating node in a connection-oriented packet network having a plurality of nodes, the message including a first node identifier relating to said originating node and a first request for translation;

determining a destination node for said data message based on information in the data message;

translating an address for said destination node to a first network routable ATM address based on said first request for translation;

selecting a network routing path to said destination node based on said first routable ATM address;

routing said data message to said destination node over said path, the destination node formulating and sending out a response message to said data message, the response message including the first node identifier for said originating node, a second node identifier for the destination node, and a second request for translation;

receiving said response message from said destination node;

determining said originating node based on said first node identifier;

translating an address for said originating node to a second network routable ATM address based on said second request for translation;

selecting a network routing path to said originating node based on said second routable ATM address; and

routing said response message to said originating node.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

formulating said data message at said originating node in the network; and

sending out said data message, the data message including said first node identifier for said originating node and said first request for translation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said network is an asynchronous transfer mode network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said node identifiers are common language location identifier codes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said data message is a transaction-based message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said network is an asynchronous transfer mode network;

said steps of routing occur over permanent virtual circuits;

said destination node is a database, the data message received by said destination node being a database query;

said steps of receiving being performed by a first directory server and a second directory server, respectively; and

said originating node is an asynchronous transfer mode switch.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein said first directory server and said second directory server are non fault-tolerant.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein said first directory server and said second directory server are the same.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein said steps of translating include mapping the node identifiers to asynchronous transfer mode end system addresses enabling said message routing in the network.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one of said directory servers being assigned a group ATM address.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said node identifiers are common language location identifier codes.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining said destination node includes determining said destination node based on information in an application layer of said message.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining said destination node includes determining said destination node based on information in a transport layer of said message.

14. A system for routing data packets within a packet network, comprising:

a first node in a connection-oriented packet network having a plurality of nodes, said node being enabled for;

receiving a data message from an originating node in the network;

determining a destination node for said data message based on information in the message, the information in the message including a node identifier for said originating node and a first request for translation;

translating an address for said destination node to a first network routable ATM address based on said first translation request;

selecting a network routing path to said destination node based on said first routable ATM address;

routing said data message to said destination node, the destination node formulating and sending out a response message to said data message, the response message including the node identifier for said originating node, another node identifier for the destination node, and a second request for translation;

a second node in the network, said second node being enabled for;

receiving said response message;

determining said originating node based on said node identifier for the originating node;

translating an address for said originating node to a second network routable ATM address;

selecting a network routing path based on said second routable ATM address based on said second translation request; and

routing said response message to said originating node.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the data message being formulated at said originating node in the network, said originating node sending out said data message, the data message including said node identifier for said originating node and said request for translation.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said network is an asynchronous transfer mode network.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said first node and said second node are the same node in the network.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said node identifiers are common language location identifier codes.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said data message is a transaction-based message.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein:

said network is an asynchronous transfer mode network;

said routing occurs over permanent virtual circuits;

said destination node is a database, the data message received by said destination node being a database query;

said first and second nodes are directory servers; and

said originating node is an asynchronous transfer mode switch.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein:

said directory servers enabled for mapping the node identifiers to asynchronous transfer mode end system addresses enabling said message routing in the network.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein:

said directory servers are non fault-tolerant.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein:

at least two of said directory servers being assigned a group address.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein:

said node identifiers are common language location identifier codes.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein:

said first node determining said destination node based on information in an application layer of said message.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein:

said first node determining said destination node based on information in a transport layer of said message.