Complementing network discovery with physical discovery
First Claim
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1. A device-implemented method of complementing network discovery with physical discovery, said method comprising:
- using a device to perform;
providing a universal physical discovery layer;
providing a legacy network discovery layer that is implemented using a legacy network discovery protocol, wherein said legacy network discovery layer is separate from and communicates with said universal physical discovery layer;
obtaining data representing a physical relationship type between physical entities in a network;
using said data to establish by said device said physical relationship type at said universal physical discovery layer using said legacy network discovery layer, wherein said physical relationship type describes a relative physical proximity between said physical entities; and
providing said physical relationship type for use at a physical entity of said physical entities wherein said device includes;
a universal physical discovery layer component for providing a universal physical discovery layer;
a universal physical discovery layer interface for obtaining, at least in part, data representing a physical relationship type between physical entities in a network; and
said universal physical discovery layer component using said data to establish by said device said physical relationship type using a legacy network discovery layer interface to communicate with a legacy network discovery layer.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for complementing network discovery with physical discovery are provided. In one embodiment, a universal physical discovery layer and a legacy network discovery layer are provided. The legacy network discovery layer is implemented using a legacy network discovery protocol. The legacy network discovery layer is separate from and communicates with the universal physical discovery layer. Data representing a physical relationship type between the physical entities is obtained and used to establish the physical relationship type at the universal physical discovery layer.
24 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A device-implemented method of complementing network discovery with physical discovery, said method comprising:
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using a device to perform; providing a universal physical discovery layer; providing a legacy network discovery layer that is implemented using a legacy network discovery protocol, wherein said legacy network discovery layer is separate from and communicates with said universal physical discovery layer; obtaining data representing a physical relationship type between physical entities in a network; using said data to establish by said device said physical relationship type at said universal physical discovery layer using said legacy network discovery layer, wherein said physical relationship type describes a relative physical proximity between said physical entities; and providing said physical relationship type for use at a physical entity of said physical entities wherein said device includes; a universal physical discovery layer component for providing a universal physical discovery layer; a universal physical discovery layer interface for obtaining, at least in part, data representing a physical relationship type between physical entities in a network; and said universal physical discovery layer component using said data to establish by said device said physical relationship type using a legacy network discovery layer interface to communicate with a legacy network discovery layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device comprising:
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a universal physical discovery layer component for providing a universal physical discovery layer; a universal physical discovery layer interface for obtaining, at least in part, data representing a physical relationship type between physical entities in a network; and said universal physical discovery layer component using said data to establish by said device said physical relationship type using a legacy network discovery layer interface to communicate with a legacy network discovery layer, wherein said legacy network discovery layer is implemented using a legacy network discovery protocol and said legacy network discovery layer is separate from said universal physical discovery layer and communicates with said universal physical discovery layer component, and wherein said physical relationship type describes a relative physical proximity between said physical entities and is provided for use at an entity of said physical entities. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A non-transitory computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method of complementing network discovery with physical discovery, said method comprising:
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providing a universal physical discovery layer configurer; obtaining data representing a physical relationship type between physical entities in a network; using said data to establish by said device said physical relationship type at said universal physical discovery layer using a legacy network discovery layer that is implemented with a legacy network discovery protocol, wherein said network discovery layer is separate from and communicates with said universal physical discovery layer, and wherein said physical relationship type describes a relative physical proximity between said physical entities; and providing said physical relationship type for use at a physical entity of said physical entities wherein said device includes; a universal physical discovery layer component for providing a universal physical discovery layer; a universal physical discovery layer interface for obtaining, at least in part, data representing a physical relationship type between physical entities in a network; and said universal physical discovery layer component using said data to establish by said device said physical relationship type using a legacy network discovery layer interface to communicate with a legacy network discovery layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification