Equal-cost source-resolved routing system and method
DCFirst Claim
1. A equal-cost source-resolved (ECSR) port selection method for transmitting an outbound flow, for a conversation, from a first node to a second node in a distributed network comprising one or more routing devices, the method comprising the steps of:
- at a switching device;
identifying a plurality of ports associated with minimal equal-cost paths from the first node to the second node;
if an inbound flow, for the conversation, received from the second node is detected on a first port of the plurality of ports of the first node, then associating a network address of the inbound flow with the first port on which it was received; and
transmitting the outbound flow from the first port of the first node to the second node based on the network address associated with the inbound flow.
11 Assignments
Litigations
2 Petitions
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for augmenting routing decisions in a network switching device with topology information acquired using source learning are disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, the method of selecting a port to transmit an outbound flow from a first node to a second node comprises the steps of identifying a plurality of ports associated with minimal equal-cost paths from the first node to the second node, and if an inbound flow from the second node is detected on a first port of the plurality of ports of the first node, then transmitting the outbound flow from the first port. In the absence of an inbound flow from the second node, the first node generally selects the port for the outbound flow from the plurality of minimal equal-cost paths. The present invention allows a switching device to take advantage of the path determination made at another router in the network while avoiding inconsistencies between conventional route selection operations and IP source learning in switching devices adapted to perform bridging on IP address.
21 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A equal-cost source-resolved (ECSR) port selection method for transmitting an outbound flow, for a conversation, from a first node to a second node in a distributed network comprising one or more routing devices, the method comprising the steps of:
at a switching device; identifying a plurality of ports associated with minimal equal-cost paths from the first node to the second node; if an inbound flow, for the conversation, received from the second node is detected on a first port of the plurality of ports of the first node, then associating a network address of the inbound flow with the first port on which it was received; and transmitting the outbound flow from the first port of the first node to the second node based on the network address associated with the inbound flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A equal-cost source-resolved (ECSR) switching device for transmitting an outbound flow, for a conversation, to a second node, wherein the switching device:
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identifies a plurality of ports associated with a minimal equal-cost path from the switching device to the second node; if an inbound flow, for the conversation, from the second node is not detected on the plurality of ports of the first node, then the switching device transmits the outbound flow, for the conversation, from a port selected from the plurality of ports associated with the minimal equal-cost path; monitors for an inbound flow, for the conversation, from the second node on the plurality of ports associated with the minimal equal-cost path; if the inbound flow, for the conversation, received from the second node is detected on a first port of the plurality of ports of the first switching device, then associating a network address of the inbound flow with the first port on which it was received; and transmit the outbound flow from the first port of the switching device to the second node based on the network address associated with the inbound flow.
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11. A method for selecting a port on a first node of a communication network for carrying an outbound flow, the method comprising the steps of:
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at a switching device; transmitting the outbound flow, for a conversation, from the first node to a second node; identifying a plurality of ports on the first node associated with minimal equal-cost paths to a second node; determining whether an inbound flow, for the conversation, received from the second node is detected on a first port of the plurality of ports of the first node; associating a network address of the inbound flow with the first port on which it was received; selecting the first port for carrying the outbound flow in response to determining that an inbound flow, for the conversation, from the second node is present on the first port; and
;transmitting the outbound flow from the first port of the first node to the second node based on the network address associated with the inbound flow. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification