Parallel bridging

Apparatus for transmitting information packets over parallel paths between first and second terminals in a network having other terminals while maintaining conformity with a protocol that precludes establishing loops formed by links between terminals that allow information packets to recirculate indefinitely comprising,

• a first LAN,
• a second LAN,
• said LANs being remotely located with respect to each other,
• parallel communication paths between said first LAN and said second LAN,
• each of said parallel communication paths including a bridge pair having first and second bridges connected by at least one link,
• said first and second bridges respectively connected to said first LAN and said second LAN,
• a topology recognizer for recognizing a parallel topology including all parallel communication paths between said first LAN and said second LAN,
• a selector for selecting one of said bridges as a master bridge for controlling the transmission of information packets over the respective parallel communication paths,
• a source of effective link costs signals representative of the effective cost for transmitting information packets over the respective parallel communication paths,
• a traffic assigner for providing assigned bucket value signals representative of at least one unique bucket value associated with each of said bridges in said parallel topology which signals are representative of assigned bucket values characterizing respective ones of said parallel communication paths,
• a forwarder responsive to each information packet for providing an observed bucket value signal characteristic of the respective information packet,
• and a comparator for comparing the observed bucket value signals representative of observed bucket values with the assigned bucket value signals representative of assigned bucket values and transmitting the associated information packet over that one of said parallel communication paths characterized by an assigned bucket value that bears a predetermined relationship to the observed bucket value associated with the latter information packet.

A method of channelling information packets in a parallel bridge computer network, said method comprising

• recognizing a parallel topology including all parallel communication paths between a first local area network and a second local area network, said local area networks being remotely located with respect to each other, each of said paths including a bridge pair, said bridge pair including two bridges connected by at least one link, one bridge of a bridge pair connected to the first local area network and the other bridge of a bridge pair connected to the second local area network;
• selecting a master bridge from all of said bridges in the parallel topology for controlling the transmission of information packets over all said bridges;
• providing a signal representative of an effective link data signal transmission cost based on an individual cost associated with transmitting data signals on each link in the parallel topology,
• providing at least one unique bucket value signal characteristic of a respective bridge pair in the parallel topology as an assigned bucket value signal;
• processing an information packet received from a local area network to which a bridge is connected to provide an observed bucket value signal for that information packet;
• comparing said observed bucket value signal with said assigned bucket value signal;
• passing the information packet over said at least one link when said observed bucket value signal has a predetermined relationship to said assigned bucket value signal;
• providing to said master bridge respective utilization signals representative of the average utilization of a respective bridge pair for information packet transmission;
• processing said utilization signals,
• and reassigning assigned bucket value signals to each bridge pair characterized by an unacceptable utilization signal.

Apparatus for transmitting information packets over parallel paths between first and second terminals in a network having other terminals while maintaining conformity with a protocol that preclude establishing loops formed by links between terminals that allow information packets to recirculate indefinitely comprising,

• a first LAN,
• a second LAN,
• said LANs being remotely located with respect to each other,
• parallel communication paths between said first LAN and said second LAN,
• each of said parallel communication paths including a bridge pair having first and second bridges connected by at least one link,
• said first and second bridges respectively connected to said first LAN and said second LAN,
• means for recognizing a parallel topology including all said parallel communication paths,
• means for selecting a master bridge from all of said bridges in the parallel topology for controlling information packet flow over all said bridges,
• means for determining an effective link data signal transmission cost based on the individual costs associated with transmitting information packets on each link in the parallel topology,
• means for assigning at least one unique bucket value signal to each bridge pair in the parallel topology,
• means for processing an information packet received from a local area network to which a bridge is connected to determine an observed bucket value signal for that information packet,
• means for comparing said observed bucket value signal with said at least one assigned bucket value signal,
• means for passing the information packet over said at least one link when said observed bucket value signal has a predetermined relationship to said assigned bucket value signal,
• means for providing to said master bridge utilization signals representative of the average utilization of respective bridge pairs for transmitting information packets,
• and means for processing said utilization signals and reassigning assigned bucket value signals to each bridge pair characterized by an unacceptable utilization signal.