Link discovery and verification using loss of light
First Claim
1. A method for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said method comprising:
- sending a request for verification of connectivity to said second node, said request for verification of connectivity identifying an IP address of said first node and an IP address of said second node, said request for verification of connectivity further identifying a port of said first node;
toggling a signal emitted by said port of said first node;
notifying said second node of a toggling mode of said port to facilitate connectivity verification; and
receiving a first message from said second node indicating whether said second node detected said toggling, said request for verification of connectivity identifying said first node being sent on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal and said first message being sent on said control channel, wherein if said first message indicates that said second node detected said toggling, said first message identifies a wavelength which the second node assigns the port.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for link discovery and verification that minimize the need for line termination resources to generate and interpret packets. To verify a link between two nodes, a first of the nodes toggles light or another signal output by one of its ports while the other node attempts to detect the toggling through its own ports. A link is therefore verified between the port that is toggling and the port that detects the toggling. This link verification technique does not require packet termination capability at either node. Furthermore, this link verification technique is very simple and may be executed very quickly even at nodes having a very large number of ports to which links maybe established.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said method comprising:
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sending a request for verification of connectivity to said second node, said request for verification of connectivity identifying an IP address of said first node and an IP address of said second node, said request for verification of connectivity further identifying a port of said first node; toggling a signal emitted by said port of said first node; notifying said second node of a toggling mode of said port to facilitate connectivity verification; and receiving a first message from said second node indicating whether said second node detected said toggling, said request for verification of connectivity identifying said first node being sent on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal and said first message being sent on said control channel, wherein if said first message indicates that said second node detected said toggling, said first message identifies a wavelength which the second node assigns the port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for operating, a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said method comprising:
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receiving a request for verification of connectivity from said second node on a control channel, said request for verification of connectivity identifying an IP address of said second node and an IP address of said first node, said request for verification of connectivity further identifying a port at said second node; detecting toggling of a signal received at a port or said first node; verifying a link to said second node by matching said toggling to a known toggling mode of said port at said second node; and sending a message to said second node indicating whether said first node matched said toggling to said known toggling mode, said message being sent on said control channel, wherein if said message indicates that said first node matched said toggling to said known toggling mode, said message identifies a wavelength which said first node assigns said port at said second node. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said apparatus comprising:
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a processor that sends a request for verification of connectivity to said second node, said processor being arranged to toggle a signal emitted by a port of said first node, said request for verification of connectivity being arranged to identify an IP address of said first node, an IP address of said second node, and said port; and a control interface that notifies said second node of a toggling mode of said port to facilitate connectivity verification, said connectivity verification designating a loss-of-light verification mechanism, wherein said request for verification is sent on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. Apparatus for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said apparatus comprising:
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a photodetector that detects toggling of a signal received at a port of said first node; and a processor that receives a request for verification of connectivity at said second node and verifies a link to said second node by matching said toggling to a known toggling mode of a port at said second node, wherein said request for verification comprises identification of an IP address of said first node, an IP address of said second node, and a port over which connectivity verification is to be performed and wherein said identification of said IP address of said first node, said IP address of said second node, and said port is received on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal, said connectivity verification designating a loss-of-light as a verification mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. Apparatus for operating a first node in a data communication network to verity connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said apparatus comprising:
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means for sending a request or verification of connectivity to said second node, said request for verification of connectivity identifying an IP address of said first node and an IP address of said second node, said request for verification of connectivity further identifying a port of said first node; means for toggling a signal emitted by said port of said first node; means for notifying said second node of a toggling mode of said port to facilitate connectivity verification; and means for receiving a first message from said second node indicating whether said second node detected said toggling, said request for verification of connectivity identifying said first node being sent on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal and said first message being sent on said control channel, wherein if said first message indicates that said second node detected said toggling, said first message identifies a wavelength which the second node assigns the port. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. Apparatus for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a request for verification of connectivity from said second node on a control channel, said request for verification of connectivity identifying an IP address of said second node and an IP address of said first node, said request for verification of connectivity further identifying a port at said second node; means for detecting toggling of an optical signal received at a part of said first node; and means for verifying a link to said second node by matching said toggling to a known toggling mode of said port at said second node, wherein said request for verification comprises identification of an IP address of said first node, an IP address of said second node, and a port over which connectivity verification is to be performed and wherein said identification of said IP address of said first node, said IP address of said second node, and port information is received on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A computer program product for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said computer program product comprising:
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code that receives a request for verification of connectivity from said second node, said request for verification of connectivity identifying an IP address of said first node and an IP address of said second node, said request for verification of connectivity further identifying a port of said second node; code that detects toggling of an optical signal received at a port of said first node; code that verifies a link to said second node by matching said toggling to a known toggling mode of a port at said second node, wherein said request for verification of connectivity identifying said IP address of said first node, said IP address or said second node, and said port of said second node is sent on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal; and a computer-readable storage medium that stores the codes. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. A computer program product for operating a first node in a data communication network to verify connectivity to a second node in said data communication network, said computer program product comprising:
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code that is configured for sending a request for verification of connectivity to said second node on a control channel, said request for verification of connectivity identifying an IP address of said second node and an IP address of said first node, said request for verification of connectivity further identifying a port at said second node; code that toggles an optical signal emitted by a port of said first node; code that notifies said second node of a toggling mode of said port to facilitate connectivity verification, wherein said request for verification comprises identification of said IP address of said first node, said IP address of said second node, and said port at said second node over which connectivity verification is to be performed and wherein said identification of said IP address of said first node, said IP address of said second node, and said port at said second node is received on a control channel via a control message separate from said signal; and a computer-readable storage medium fur storing the codes. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40)
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Specification