Method and apparatus for the fast detection of connectivity loss between devices in a network
First Claim
1. A method including the steps of:
- communicating a status by a network device to a neighboring network device in a network, the network device having a control plane and a forwarding plane, wherein the forwarding plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the network device, and wherein the control plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are processed so that forwarding information is resolved by communicating with other devices in the network, the step of communicating including the step of forwarding a connectivity status message indicating the status of the network device to the neighboring network device, the status message generated and communicated using the forwarding plane of the network device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for quickly determining the status of a network device in a network communicates status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane of one network device to at least one neighboring network device. The status inquiry messages indicate the connectivity status with at least one neighboring device. The status inquiry messages are transmitted periodically to the at least one neighboring device. In addition, the network device may communicate an advertisement message over the control plane to discover the at least one neighboring network device prior to the communication of the status inquiry messages over the forwarding plane. The network devices may negotiate communication parameters for the exchange of status inquiry messages with the at least one network device.
98 Citations
46 Claims
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1. A method including the steps of:
communicating a status by a network device to a neighboring network device in a network, the network device having a control plane and a forwarding plane, wherein the forwarding plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the network device, and wherein the control plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are processed so that forwarding information is resolved by communicating with other devices in the network, the step of communicating including the step of forwarding a connectivity status message indicating the status of the network device to the neighboring network device, the status message generated and communicated using the forwarding plane of the network device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method including the steps of:
receiving, at a network device in a network, a connectivity status message generated and communicated by a forwarding plane of a neighboring network device, the status message including data indicating the status of the neighboring network device, wherein the forwarding plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the neighboring network device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A network device comprising:
a control plane and a forwarding plane, wherein the forwarding plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the network device, and wherein the control plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are processed so that forwarding information can be resolved by communicating with other devices in the network, the forwarding plane generating and communicating, to a neighboring network device, a connectivity status message indicating the status of the network device. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A network device including:
a control plane and a forwarding plane, wherein the forwarding plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the network device, and wherein the control plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are processed so that forwarding information can be resolved by communicating with other devices in the network, the forwarding plane receiving a connectivity status message generated and communicated by a forwarding plane of a neighboring network device, the status message including data indicating the status of the neighboring network device. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A computer program product for use on a network device in a network, the network device having a forwarding plane and a control plane, wherein the forwarding plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the network device, and wherein the control plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are processed so that forwarding information can be resolved by communicating with other devices in the network, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, the computer readable program code comprising:
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program code that communicates the status of the network device to the network, including program code that generates and communicates a connectivity status message to a neighboring network device via the forwarding plane, the program code operating independent of the control plane, the status message including data indicating the status of the network device. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. An apparatus for communicating a status of a network device in a network, comprising:
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a forwarding plane including a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the network device; a control plane including a processing pathway in which packets are processed so that forwarding information is resolved by communicating with other devices in the network; and means for communicating a connectivity status message over the forwarding plane to a neighboring network device, the status message including data indicating the status of the network device and being generated by the forwarding plane. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A method comprising:
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forwarding, using a control plane of a network device, an advertisement message to a neighboring network device, the advertisement message including communication parameters associated with the network device; receiving, by the network device in response to the advertisement message, a reply advertisement message from the neighboring network device, the reply advertisement message including communication parameters associated with the neighboring network device; generating and communicating, using a forwarding plane of the network device, connectivity status messages to the neighboring network device, the status messages indicating a status of the network device, wherein the forwarding plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the network device, and wherein the control plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are processed so that forwarding information can be resolved by communicating with other devices in the network. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43)
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44. A method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, at a network device in a network, from a control plane of a neighboring network device, an advertisement message including communication parameters associated with the neighboring network device; replying to the advertisement message to indicate discovery of the neighboring network device; and receiving, from a forwarding plane of the neighboring network device, connectivity status messages, the status messages indicating a status of the neighboring network device and being communicated by the forwarding plane, wherein the forwarding plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are forwarded based on previously resolved forwarding information stored within the neighboring network device, and wherein the control plane comprises a processing pathway in which packets are processed so that forwarding information can be resolved by communicating with other devices in the network. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46)
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Specification