US 5,335,221 A · Integrity mapping in data communication system

Abstract

A device for communicating with other devices over a communication system is disclosed which has the capability of being a segment reporter and if it is not a segment reporter, of determining when it should become a segment reporter. The device includes a transmitter and receiver such that if the device is a segment reporter, it can transmit periodically a report request message requiring other devices to transmit report messages back to it and it can transmit an integrity map to all other devices based upon the report messages which it received from those devices. If the device is not a segment reporter, it can transmit report messages back to the segment reporter in response to a report request message and it can monitor the segment reporter in order to assume the segment reporting function if the segment reporter fails. The device will store the integrity map it receives from the segment reporter.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A communication system comprising:

communication channel means for conducting messages thereon;
a plurality of device means connected to said communication channel means;
wherein one of said device means is designated as a reporter means for periodically transmitting an integrity report request message requiring all others of said device means to transmit integrity report messages and for globally transmitting an integrity map in response to said integrity report messages from said all others of said device means, said integrity map indicating the integrity of said all others of said device means, and being transmitted in a global transmission to all of said other devices;
and
wherein each of said all others of said device means is arranged for transmitting an integrity report message to said reporter means in response to said integrity report request message, for storing said integrity map, and for monitoring said reporter means so the one of said all others of said device means can become a reporter means for said communication channel means if said reporter means fails.

2 more elements

A device for communicating with other devices over a communication system, said device comprising:

first means for determining whether said device is an integrity map reporter and for monitoring when said device should become an integrity map reporter if it is not currently an integrity map reporter;
second means for periodically transmitting, if said device is a map reporter, an integrity report request message requiring other devices to transmit integrity report messages, for transmitting, if said device is not a map reporter, an integrity report message in response to an integrity report request message, for globally transmitting, if said device is a map reporter, an integrity map indicating integrity of said other devices, and for receiving, if said device is not a map reporter, an integrity map indicating integrity of all devices capable of communicating over said communication system, said integrity map indicating the integrity of all of said other devices and being transmitted in a global transmission to all of said other devices;
and
third means for storing said integrity map.

1 more element

A device for communicating with other devices over a communication system, said device comprising:

first means for determining whether said device is a map reporter and for determining when said device should become a map reporter if said device is not currently a map reporter;
redundant transmitting and receiving means connected to first and second communication channels for periodically transmitting, if said device is a map reporter, an integrity report request message requiring other devices to transmit integrity report messages, for transmitting, if said device is not a map reporter, an integrity report message in response to an integrity report request message, for globally transmitting, if said device is a map reporter, an integrity map indicating integrity of all said other devices, and for receiving, if said device is not a map reporter, integrity maps indicating integrity of all devices capable of communicating over either the first and second communication channels, said integrity map being transmitted in a global transmission to all said other devices;
and
storage means for storing said integrity maps.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrity mapping in data communication system

Life of this patent

Integrity mapping in data communication system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20