System and method for establishing a virtual circuit in an ATM network

• US 7,185,113 B1
• Filed: 12/31/1997
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hayes, David, Herlocher, Steve, Haberman, Randy
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US09/002,187
• Time in Patent Office: 3,345 Days
• Field of Search: 370/17, 370/401, 370/337, 370/233, 370/396, 370/352, 370/395, 709/238, 709/200, 709/226, 709/252, 709/203, 709/224, 709/218, 709/229, 709/231, 709/250, 709/249, 709/223, 395/188.01, 707/104.38
• US Class Current: 709/250
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/5601 Transfer mode dependent, e.g. ATM
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/562 Routing

Abstract

System and method for establishing a virtual circuit from a client, through an ATM network, to any one of a plurality of servers forming a functional group. The present invention operates as a peer group leader within the ATM network, routing virtual circuits when a routing request is received. The present invention selects an operation server from the functional group, computes a route from the client to the selected server, and returns the route in a designated transit list.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a virtual circuit from a client to one of a plurality of servers through a network, comprising the steps of:

(1) receiving a request for connection from a client, wherein said request specifies a functional group having a unique ATM address, and wherein said functional group includes a plurality of servers, each capable of servicing said client, and wherein each of said plurality of servers are assigned a unique ATM address;

(2) selecting a server capable of satisfying said request from said functional group, wherein said selection is transparent to said client;

(3) computing a route to said server; and

(4) establishing a virtual circuit from said client to said server via said route.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of selecting a server further comprises selecting an operational server from said functional group which has the highest available computational power.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said client is a telephone switching system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said network is an ATM network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said network is a TCP/IP network.

6. A system for establishing a virtual circuit from a client to one of a plurality of servers through a network, comprising:

an interface module coupled to receive a routing request from the network, wherein said routing request specifies a functional group and a client, said functional group having a unique ATM address, and wherein said functional group includes a plurality of servers, each of said plurality of servers, are assigned a unique ATM address and is capable of servicing said client;

a server module configured to select a server capable of satisfying said routing request from said functional group, wherein said selection is transparent to said client;

a routing module configured to determine a route from said client to said server through the network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said network is an ATM network.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said system further comprises:

a peer group leader module configured to cause the network to elect said system as a peer group leader.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of servers responds to an ATM address for said functional group.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said server module is configured to select an operational server from said functional group which has the highest available computational power.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said server module is further configured to maintain a list of functional groups within the network.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein said client is a telephone switching system.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein the network is a TCP/IP network.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer program logic stored therein, wherein said computer program logic comprises:

interface means for enabling a computer to receive request from a network, wherein said routing request specifics a functional group and a client, said functional group having a unique ATM address and wherein said functional group includes a plurality of servers, each of said plurality of servers, is assigned a unique ATM address, and is capable of servicing said client;

server means for enabling said computer to select a server capable of satisfying said request from said functional group, wherein said selection is transparent to said client; and

routing means for enabling said computer to determine a route from said client to said sever through said network.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said network is an ATM network.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein said computer program logic further comprises:

a peer group leader means for enabling said computer to cause said ATM network to elect said system as a peer group leader.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein each of said plurality of servers responds to an ATM address for said functional group.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said network is a TCP/IP network.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said server means enables said computer to select an operational server from said functional group which has the highest available computational power.

20. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said server means further enables said computer to maintain a list of functional groups within said network.

21. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein said client is a telephone switching system.

22. A computer, comprising:

a processor;

interface means for enabling said processor to receive a routing request from a network wherein said routing request specifies a functional group and a client, said functional group having a unique ATM address, and wherein said functional group includes a plurality of servers, each of said plurality of servers, is assigned a unique ATM address, and is capable of servicing said client;

server means for enabling said processor to select a server capable of satisfying said routing request from said functional group, wherein said selection is transparent to said client; and

routing means for enabling said processor to determine a route from said client to said server through said network.

23. The computer of claim 22, wherein said network is an ATM network.

24. The computer of claim 23, wherein said computer further comprises:

a peer group leader means for enabling said processor to cause said ATM network to elect said system as a peer group leader.

25. The computer of claim 23, wherein each of said plurality of servers responds to an ATM address for said functional group.

26. The computer of claim 22, wherein said network is a TCP/IP network.

27. The computer of claim 22, wherein said server means enables said processor to select an operational server from said functional group which has the highest available computational power.

28. The computer of claim 22, wherein said server means further enables said processor to maintain a list of functional groups within said network.

29. The computer of claim 22, wherein said client is a telephone switching system.