Method and apparatus for managing a transition for a class of data between first and second topologies in a data communications network
First Claim
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1. A method of managing a transition for a class of data between first and second topologies in a data communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and supporting multiple topologies, the method comprising the steps, performed at a participating node of:
- defining a transition topology that is used temporarily during a routing transition from the first network topology to the second network topology;
marking data in said class as assigned to the transition topology;
wherein the marking constrains the data to travel in the transition topology assigned to the marking;
forwarding marked data in said class only among nodes within said transition topology;
ceasing marking data when all participating nodes in the network have implemented the marking step; and
subsequently forwarding data in said class via the second topology.
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Abstract
A method is disclosed of managing a transition for a class of data between first and second topologies in a data communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and supporting multiple topologies. The method comprises the steps, performed at a participating node, of defining a transition topology, marking data in said class as assigned to the transition topology; and forwarding marked data only among nodes within said transition topology.
58 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of managing a transition for a class of data between first and second topologies in a data communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and supporting multiple topologies, the method comprising the steps, performed at a participating node of:
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defining a transition topology that is used temporarily during a routing transition from the first network topology to the second network topology; marking data in said class as assigned to the transition topology; wherein the marking constrains the data to travel in the transition topology assigned to the marking; forwarding marked data in said class only among nodes within said transition topology; ceasing marking data when all participating nodes in the network have implemented the marking step; and subsequently forwarding data in said class via the second topology. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions for forwarding data in a data communications network which when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform:
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defining a transition topology that is used temporarily during a routing transition from the first network topology to the second network topology; marking data in said class as assigned to the transition topology; wherein the marking constrains the data to travel in the transition topology assigned to the marking; and forwarding marked data in said class only among nodes within said transition topology; ceasing marking data when all participating nodes in the network have implemented the marking step; subsequently forwarding data in said class via the second topology.
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15. An apparatus for managing a transition for a class of data between first and second topologies in a data communications network comprising a plurality of nodes and supporting multiple topologies, the apparatus comprising:
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means for defining a transition topology that is used temporarily during a routing transition from the first network topology to the second network topology; means for marking data in said class as assigned to the transition topology; wherein the marking constrains the data to travel in the transition topology assigned to the marking; means for forwarding marked data in said class only among nodes within said transition topology; means for ceasing marking data when all participating nodes in the network for implementing the marking step; and means for subsequently forwarding data in said class via the second topology. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for managing a transition for a class of data between first and second topologies in a data communications network, the apparatus comprising:
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one or more processors; and a network interface communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and configured to communicate one or more packet flows among the one or more processors and a network and a computer readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions for managing a transition for a class of data between first and second topologies in a data communications network which, when executed by said one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform; defining a transition topology that is used temporarily during a routing transition from the first network topology to the second network topology; marking data in said class as assigned to the transition topology; wherein the marking constrains the data to travel in the transition topology assigned to the marking; and forwarding marked data in said class only among nodes within said transition topology; ceasing marking data when all participating nodes in the network have implemented the marking step; subsequently forwarding data in said class via the second topology.
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Specification