Communicating processing capabilities along a communications path
First Claim
1. A method of determining functions to provide at a given node forming part of a communication path comprising:
- sending from the given node, information identifying;
one or more local functions capable of being provided to traffic in the communication path by the given node; and
if available, one or more remote functions capable of being provided to the traffic by other nodes forming part of the communication path;
receiving information from at least one other node forming part of the communication path, the information identifying one or more remote functions; and
determining whether any of the one or more local functions should be applied to the traffic based on criteria, which defines how the one or more local and remote functions are applied by the given node and other nodes and is available to the given node and other nodes,wherein the received information is received from at least one of the other nodes that is upstream of traffic flow, and at least one of the other nodes that is downstream of the traffic flow, and wherein the at least one of the other nodes that is upstream of the traffic flow is a most proximate node upstream of traffic flow, and the at least one of the other nodes that is downstream of the traffic flow is a most proximate node downstream of the traffic flow.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a technique for determining which nodes are to provide various functions on traffic along a particular communication path. Generally, a communication path may include multiple nodes between which and through which traffic is routed. These nodes may include the communication terminals at either end of the communication path, as well as various types of routing nodes along the communication path. Each node will send to other nodes in the communication path information identifying the local functions it is capable of providing to the traffic carried in the communication path, and if available, remote functions capable of being provided to the traffic by other nodes in the communication path. Each node will receive from other nodes in the communication path information bearing on the remote functions. Each node will access criteria to determine whether any local functions should be applied to the traffic.
219 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of determining functions to provide at a given node forming part of a communication path comprising:
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sending from the given node, information identifying; one or more local functions capable of being provided to traffic in the communication path by the given node; and if available, one or more remote functions capable of being provided to the traffic by other nodes forming part of the communication path; receiving information from at least one other node forming part of the communication path, the information identifying one or more remote functions; and determining whether any of the one or more local functions should be applied to the traffic based on criteria, which defines how the one or more local and remote functions are applied by the given node and other nodes and is available to the given node and other nodes, wherein the received information is received from at least one of the other nodes that is upstream of traffic flow, and at least one of the other nodes that is downstream of the traffic flow, and wherein the at least one of the other nodes that is upstream of the traffic flow is a most proximate node upstream of traffic flow, and the at least one of the other nodes that is downstream of the traffic flow is a most proximate node downstream of the traffic flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A communication node forming part of a communication path comprising:
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a communication interface; and a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to; send information identifying; one or more local functions capable of being provided to traffic in the communication path by the communication node; and if available, one or more remote functions capable of being provided to the traffic by other nodes forming part of the communication path; receive information from at least one other node forming part of the communication path, the information identifying one or more remote functions; and determine whether any of the one or more local functions should be applied to the traffic based on criteria, which defines how the one or more local and remote functions are applied by the communication node and the other nodes and is available to the communication node and the other nodes, wherein the received information is received from at least one of the other nodes that is upstream of traffic flow, and at least one of the other nodes that is downstream of the traffic flow, and wherein the at least one of the other nodes that is upstream of the traffic flow is a most proximate node upstream of traffic flow, and the at least one of the other nodes that is downstream of the traffic flow is a most proximate node downstream of the traffic flow. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of determining functions to provide at a given node forming part of a communication path comprising:
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sending from the given node, information identifying; one or more local functions capable of being provided to traffic in the communication path by the given node; and if available, one or more remote functions capable of being provided to the traffic by other nodes forming part of the communication path; receiving information from at least one other node forming part of the communication path, the information identifying one or more remote functions; and determining whether any of the one or more local functions should be applied to the traffic based on criteria, which defines how the one or more local and remote functions are applied by the given node and other nodes and is available to the given node and other nodes, wherein the received information is received from at least one of the other nodes that is upstream of traffic flow, and at least one of the other nodes that is downstream of the traffic flow, and wherein the criteria is further based on a location of one or more other nodes relative to the given node.
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20. A communication node forming part of a communication path comprising:
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a communication interface; and a control system associated with the communication interface and adapted to; send information identifying; one or more local functions capable of being provided to traffic in the communication path by the communication node; and if available, one or more remote functions capable of being provided to the traffic by other nodes forming part of the communication path; receive information from at least one other node forming part of the communication path, the information identifying one or more remote functions; and determine whether any of the one or more local functions should be applied to the traffic based on criteria, which defines how the one or more local and remote functions are applied by the communication node and the other nodes and is available to the communication node and the other nodes, wherein the received information is received from at least one of the other nodes that is upstream of traffic flow, and at least one of the other nodes that is downstream of the traffic flow, and wherein the criteria is further based on a location of one or more other nodes relative to the given node.
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Specification