US 5,398,012 A · Distributed processing of route selection across networks and subnetworks

Abstract

The process for determining the best communication route from a source end station to a destination end station is distributed over both source and destination network nodes. Network nodes, at the interface between a wide area network (WAN) and each subnetwork, contain access agents to control the communication flow between the wide area network and an end station in the subnetwork. The task of selecting the best route between two end stations is distributed between the access agents at the WAN interface in the first subnetwork, and the access agents at the WAN interface in the second subnetwork. Each access agent at one WAN interface obtains the best route from itself to the end station in its subnetwork. Each access agent at the other WAN interface finds the best route from each access agent at the first WAN interface through itself to the end station in its subnetwork. One designated access agent collects all the best route information. This best route information is concatenated, and the route with the least weight is selected as the best route between end stations.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A selection apparatus for use in a communication network having a Wide Area Network (WAN) and a plurality of subnetworks, an interface between the WAN and each subnetwork, and having one or more access agents at each interface, said selection apparatus for selecting the best route between a first end station in a first subnetwork and a second end station in a second subnetwork, said selection apparatus comprising:

a plurality of first access agent means in the first subnetwork for routing communication flow between a first end station and the wide area network, and for finding first, best-route information from each first access agent means to the first end station;
a plurality of second access agent means in a second subnetwork for routing communication flow between the second end station and the wide area network, and for finding second, best-route information from each second access agent means to the second end station, and for finding WAN, best-route information between each of said first access agent means and each of said second access agent means;
and
selecting access agent means responsive to each of said first and second access agent means for selecting the best route from the first end station to the second end station based on the first, best-route information from said first access agent means, the WAN, best-route information from the second access agent means, and the second, best-route information from said second access agents means.

1 more element

A method for selecting a best communication route from a source end station to a destination end station through a communication network having a Wide Area Network (WAN) and subnetworks attached to the wide Area Network, an interface between the WAN and each subnetwork, and each subnetwork containing one or more end stations, said communication network having one or more access agents at the interface between the WAN and each subnetwork, said method comprising the steps of:

finding a best source route from each source access agent to the source end station;
finding a best destination route from each destination access agent to the destination end station;
finding a best WAN route from each source access agent to each destination access agent;
first, concatenating the best WAN route with either the best source route, or the best destination route for each access agent thereby producing a best combined route from each of the access agents at the source, or destination end, to the end station at the other end;
and
second, concatenating the best combined route with either the best source route or the best destination route based on the route not having been concatenated by said first concatenating step whereby the best route from the source end station to the destination end station is selected.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Distributed processing of route selection across networks and subnetworks

Life of this patent

Distributed processing of route selection across networks and subnetworks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15