Method and apparatus for storage and retrieval of connection data in a communications system

• US 7,076,556 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Brock, John Christopher, Fadel, Charles K., Riley, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang, Paul H.
• Application Number:
  US09/628,614
• Time in Patent Office: 2,171 Days
• Field of Search: 375/231, 375/222, 375/8, 375/121, 370/244, 370/254, 370/94, 379/27, 379/98.32, 709/222, 709/203, 709/231, 709/223, 709/227, 709/228, 709/230
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A method and apparatus for improved communication in a communications system is disclosed. The improvement involves storing connection data at a client end of a client-server connection within a communications system. Connection data is transmitted from a server communications device to a data access device. This connection data history can later be retrieved and analyzed by a server communications device to assist in the optimal configuration of communication sessions between the data access device and the server communications device within the communications system.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting connection data in a communications system from a server communications device, to a data access device, comprising the steps of:

sending, from the server communications device, to the data access device, a storage capability request for determining storage capability of the data access device;

receiving, at the server communications device, a storage capability reply from the data access device; and

sending, based upon the storage capability reply, connection data from the server communications device to the data access device for storage on the data access device, the connection data associated with a current connection between the server communications device and the data access device, and for subsequent retrieval by the server communications device or another server communications device during a subsequent connection.

2. A method for retrieving connection data in a communications system comprising the step of:

sending, from a server communications device, to a data access device, a connection data request;

receiving, at the server communications device, connection data from the data access device, the connection data associated with one or more prior connections between the server communications device and the data access device, at least a portion of the connection data having been previously sent from the server communications device to the data access device for storage during the one or more prior connections; and

storing the connection data in the data access device in a non-permanent manner.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the connection data request comprises offset and length parameters.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

determining, using the retrieved connection data, a performance characteristic of the communications system.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

configuring, using the retrieved connection data, a component connected to the communications system.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the retrieved connection data comprises a plurality of recently used Internet Protocol addresses and the step of configuring further comprises storing the Internet Protocol addresses in a router connected to the communications system.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the data access device supports a reduced training connection protocol and the connection data is used to reset the reduced training connection protocol.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the reduced training connection protocol is a Quick Connect protocol defined by ITU-T Recommendation V.92.

9. The method of claim 2 wherein the data access device supports a reduced training connection protocol and the connection data is used to indicate that a reset of the reduced training connection protocol should be considered.

10. The method of claim 2 wherein the connection data comprises at least one of a server communications device identifier, a data access device identifier, an Internet Service Provider identifier, a software version identifier, and a recently used Internet Protocol address.

11. The method of claim 2 wherein the data access device is an analog modem, a digital subscriber line modem, an integrated services digital network modem, a cable modem, a power line modem or a wireless modem.

12. An apparatus for transmitting connection data in a communications system from a server communications device, to a data access device, comprising:

a first logic circuit sending a storage capability request message, for determining storage capability of the data access device, from the server communications device to the data access device;

a second logic circuit sending a storage capability reply message from the data access device to the server communications device; and

a third logic circuit sending a connection data buffer to the data access device from the server communications device, based upon the storage capability reply message, the connection data associated with a current connection between the server communications device and the data access device, and for subsequent retrieval by the server communications device or another server communications device during a subsequent connection.

13. An apparatus for retrieving connection data in a communications system comprising:

a first logic circuit sending a connection data request message from a server communications device to a data access device, for requesting connection data;

a second logic circuit receiving connection data from the data access device, the connection data associated with one or more prior connections between the server communications device and the data access device, at least a portion of the connection data having been previously sent from the server communications device to the data access device for storage during the one or more prior connections; and

wherein the connection data is stored in the data access device in a non-permanent manner.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the connection data request message comprises offset and length parameters.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a performance attribute describing a performance characteristic of the communications system, being determining using the retrieved connection data.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

a component, connected to the communications system, configured using the retrieved connection data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the retrieved connection data comprises a plurality of recently used Internet Protocol addresses and

the component is configured by storing the Internet Protocol addresses in a router connected to the communications system.

18. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the data access device supports a reduced training connection protocol and the connection data is used to reset the reduced training connection protocol.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the reduced training connection protocol is a Quick Connect protocol defined by ITU-T Recommendation V.92.

20. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the data access device supports a reduced training connection protocol and the connection data is used to indicate that a reset of the reduced training connection protocol should be considered.

21. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the connection data comprises at least one of a server communications device identifier, a data access device identifier, an Internet Service Provider identifier, a software version identifier, and a recently used Internet Protocol address.

22. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the data access device is an analog modem, a digital subscriber line modem, an integrated services digital network modem, a cable modem, a power line modem or a wireless modem.

23. An apparatus for transmitting connection data in a communications system from a server communications device, to a data access device, comprising:

a first means for sending, from the server communications device, to the data access device, a storage capability request message for determining storage capability of the data access device;

a means for receiving, at the server communications device, a storage capability reply message from the data access device; and

a second means for sending, based upon the storage capability reply message, connection data from the server communications device to data access device for storage on the data access device, the connection data associated with a current connection between the server communications device and the data access device, and for subsequent retrieval by the server communications device or another server communications device during a subsequent connection.

24. An apparatus for retrieving connection data in a communications system comprising:

a means for sending, from a server communications device, to a data access device, a connection data request message;

a means for receiving, at the server communications device, connection data from the data access device, the connection data associated with one or more prior connections between the server communications device and the data access device, at least a portion of the connection data having been previously sent from the server communications device to the data access device for storage during the one or more prior connections; and

wherein the connection data is stored in the data access device in a non-permanent manner.

25. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium storing a set of computer instructions for;

sending, from the server communications device, to the data access device, a storage capability request for determining storage capability of the data access device;

receiving, at the server communications device, a storage capability reply from the data access device; and

sending, based upon the storage capability reply, connection data from the server communications device to data access device for storage on the data access device, the connection data associated with a current connection between the server communications device and the data access device, and for subsequent retrieval by the server communications device or another server communications device during a subsequent connection.

26. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium storing a set of computer instructions for;

sending, from a server communications device, to a data access device, a connection data request;

receiving, at the server communications device, connection data from the data access device, the connection data associated with one or more prior connections between the server communications device and the data access device, at least a portion of the connection data having been previously sent from the server communications device to the data access device for storage during the one or more prior connections; and

wherein the connection data is stored in the data access device in a non-permanent manner.