US 5,598,532 A · Method and apparatus for optimizing computer networks

Abstract

An optimization method collects data regarding network topology and traffic flow and creates a network model. The model is analyzed using optimization rules and network performance objectives to determine the optimal configuration of the network according to the network performance objectives. An optimization rule for positioning a shared central resource on the network identifies the communication paths between all clients of the resource and assigns a cost value to the traffic flowing between the clients and the resource. This is repeated for each potential resource position in the network. The position having the lowest traffic cost is the optimal position for the resource. An optimization rule for partitioning network segments determines all possible partitions at the hubs of a segment and scores the performance of each possible partition, according to network performance goals. The hub partition having the lowest score is the optimal hub for partitioning the network segment.

Claims17

Dependent claims

For a network including a plurality of interconnected network segments forming a network configuration, each network segment having at least one node, the network having at least one shared central resource interconnected in a network segment, a computer implemented method of optimizing the network configuration, comprising the computer executed steps of:

creating a network model of network traffic flow and network topology;
receiving an input specifying at least one network performance goal;
selecting at least one optimization rule as a function of the specified at least one network performance goal;
comprising,
optimizing the network configuration by determining an optimal network traffic flow using the selected at least one optimization rule by:
identifying at least one switching element on the network;
selecting a shared central resource;
identifying all clients on the network communicating with the shared central resource;
for each switching element, determining from the network model a network traffic flow between the shared central resource as positioned at the switching element and all clients communicating with the shared central resource;
determining a traffic cost for each network traffic flow according to the network performance goal;
and
comparing said traffic costs to determine the switching element having a lowest traffic cost.

9 more elements

For a network including a plurality of interconnected network segments forming a network configuration, each network segment having at least one node, the network having at least one shared central resource interconnected to a network segment, the network segment including a hub tree structure having at least one parent hub coupled to at least one child hub, a computer implemented method of optimizing the network configuration, comprising the computer executed steps of:

creating a network model of network traffic flow and network topology;
receiving an input specifying at least one network performance goal;
selecting at least one optimization rule as a function of the specified at least one network performance goal;
and,
optimizing the network configuration, using the selected at least one optimization rule to position a switching element at an optimal position between two coupled hubs by:
partitioning a network segment between a child hub and its parent hub, creating a partition including the child hub and a partition including the parent hub;
scoring each partition of the child hub according to the network traffic flow of the partitions of the child hub, and associating the scores of the partitions with the child hub as a score for the child hub;
repeating the steps of partitioning and scoring for each child hub of the network segment;
and
selecting the child hub having a lowest score for positioning the switching element between the child hub and its parent hub.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for optimizing computer networks

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for optimizing computer networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17