Method and apparatus for neighborhood discovery across disparate point-to-point networks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A network, comprising:
- first and second link layer network nodes communicating with each other via a communications path, the first and second link layer network nodes being layer 2 network nodes;
a first network layer network node communicating with a second network layer network node, each network layer network node communicating locally with respective link layer network nodes using different Internet Protocol (IP) link layer protocols, the first and second network layer network nodes being layer 3 network nodes; and
first and second discovery units, exchange units, and reporting units configured to operate in connection with respective first and second link layer network nodes to determine respective unique identifiers associated with the network layer network nodes, to exchange the unique identifiers with each other, and to provide the unique identifier of a distal network layer network node to the respective local network layer network nodes.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method or apparatus in an exemplary embodiment supports first and second layer network nodes that may be configured to communicate with each other via a communications path. In embodiments a first network node communicates via a second network node across a layer 2 network to send data. The first network node is typically on a different link layer protocol than the second network node receiving the data. Thus, the first and second layer network nodes, having different link layer protocols, may communicate with each other. Accordingly, through use of embodiments of this invention, Neighbor Discovery (ND) is possible in a network, such as an IPv6 network, that has protocols incompatible with each other.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A network, comprising:
-
first and second link layer network nodes communicating with each other via a communications path, the first and second link layer network nodes being layer 2 network nodes; a first network layer network node communicating with a second network layer network node, each network layer network node communicating locally with respective link layer network nodes using different Internet Protocol (IP) link layer protocols, the first and second network layer network nodes being layer 3 network nodes; and first and second discovery units, exchange units, and reporting units configured to operate in connection with respective first and second link layer network nodes to determine respective unique identifiers associated with the network layer network nodes, to exchange the unique identifiers with each other, and to provide the unique identifier of a distal network layer network node to the respective local network layer network nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for communicating between network nodes, comprising:
-
communicating with a first link layer network node from a second link layer network node, the first and second link layer network nodes being layer 2 network nodes; communicating with a first network layer network node from a second network layer network node, each network layer network node communicating locally with respective link layer network nodes using different Internet Protocol (IP) link layer protocols, the first and second network layer network nodes being layer 3 network nodes; determining respective unique identifiers associated with the network layer network nodes; exchanging the unique identifiers; and providing the unique identifier of a distal network layer network node to the respective local network layer network node. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A network node computing system, comprising:
-
a discovery unit to determine unique identifiers associated with a local network layer network node; an exchange unit to exchange the unique identifier with an exchange unit in a link layer network node; and a reporting unit configured to provide a unique identifier of a distal network layer 3 network node received from the exchange unit in the link layer network node, wherein the network node computing system communicates with the local network layer network node using a first Internet Protocol(IP)link layer protocol; and wherein the link layer network node communicates with the distal network layer 3 network node using a second IP link protocol. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification