US 5,953,338 A · Dynamic control processes and systems for asynchronous transfer mode networks

Abstract

A system comprises a system control module and a plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches the interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches are interconnected with one another via at least one physical interface to form a network. The network is used to transfer various types of information. Each asynchronous transfer mode switch has a connection admission control module to determine whether a virtual connection, such a virtual path, virtual channel, or grouping of virtual paths, can be connected through that particular asynchronous transfer mode switch. The virtual connection is formed from one asynchronous transfer mode switch to at least one other asynchronous transfer mode switch via a link of the at least one physical interface. The system control module connects to at least one asynchronous transfer mode switch and determines whether the virtual connection can be created in the network. A process of monitoring a utilization level of a grouping of a virtual path on a physical interface comprises checking the utilization level of the virtual path, updating an amount of available bandwidth for the virtual path, and comparing the amount of available bandwidth with a maximum threshold for the available bandwidth and setting an overload condition if the amount exceeds the maximum threshold and clearing the overload condition if the amount is below the maximum threshold. Service contracts governing a client's use of the network and ability to set up a virtual connection are also be checked in certain circumstances.

Claims60

Dependent claims

A system, comprising:

(a) a plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches that are interconnected with one another via at least one physical interface to form a network, said network used to transfer various types of information, each interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches having a connection admission control module to determine whether a virtual connection can be connected through that particular interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches, said virtual connection connecting one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches to at least one other interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches via a link of said at least one physical interface;
and
(b) a system control module connected to at least one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches, said system control module determines whether said virtual connection can be created in said network, wherein said system control module on an on-going basis determines whether said network is in an overload condition and said system control module also checks said overload condition and determines whether said virtual connection can be set up for said network and further wherein said virtual connection is comprised of at least one virtual path group and each virtual path group of said at least one virtual path group is comprised of at least one virtual path and further wherein each virtual path group has a first utilization level and each virtual path has a second utilization level and said system control module checks said second utilization level of each virtual path in one virtual path group and then said first utilization level of said virtual path group to establish said overload condition.

A system of monitoring use of a network, said network used to transfer information from a first location to a second location, comprising:

(a) a plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches that are interconnected with one another via at least one physical interface to form said network and a virtual path group connecting one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches to at least one other interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches via a first physical interface of said at least one physical interface, said virtual path group comprised of at least one virtual path, each virtual path is comprised of at least one virtual channel;
and
(b) a system control module connected to at least one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches, said system control module determines whether said virtual path group can be created in said network, said system control module determines whether said at least one virtual channel of each said virtual path can be created in said network, wherein each virtual path group has a first utilization level and each virtual path has a second utilization level and said system control module checks said second utilization level of each virtual path in one virtual path group and said first utilization level of said virtual path group to determine whether said at least one virtual channel of said virtual path can be created.

A process of monitoring an utilization level of a virtual connection on a physical interface, said virtual connection on said physical interface comprising a plurality of groupings of virtual paths in which each grouping of virtual paths comprising a plurality of virtual paths, each grouping of virtual paths having a grouping utilization level and each virtual path having a path utilization level, comprising:

(a) monitoring said path utilization level of each virtual path in one grouping of virtual paths of said plurality of virtual paths to generate a path usage amount;
(b) combining said path usage amounts of each virtual path of said one grouping of virtual paths to monitor said grouping utilization level of said one grouping of virtual paths by:
(b1) checking said utilization level of said virtual path;
(b2) updating a virtual path amount of available bandwidth for said virtual path;
(b3) comparing said virtual path amount of available bandwidth with a maximum virtual path threshold for said available bandwidth and setting an overload condition if said amount of available bandwidth exceeds said maximum virtual path threshold and clearing said overload condition if said virtual path amount of available bandwidth is below said maximum virtual path threshold;
(b4) requesting a block of an additional bandwidth from said physical interface if said virtual path amount exceeds said maximum threshold;
and
(b5) searching for violations of terms and conditions of client contracts and taking measures to enforce client contracts if additional bandwidth from said physical interface is not available;
(c) requesting a block of an additional bandwidth from said physical interface if said amount of available bandwidth exceeds said maximum threshold;
and
(d) searching for violations of terms and conditions of client contracts and taking measures to enforce client contracts if said block of additional bandwidth from said physical interface is not available.

8 more elements

A system, comprising:

(a) a first asynchronous transfer mode switch;
(b) a second asynchronous transfer mode switch that is interconnected with said first asynchronous transfer mode switch via a physical interface, said first asynchronous transfer mode switch transfer various types of information to said second asynchronous transfer mode switch via said a virtual connection on said physical interface;
and
(c) a system control module in communication with said first asynchronous transfer mode switch, said system control module in communication with said second asynchronous transfer mode switch via said first asynchronous transfer mode switch and said physical interface, said system control module dynamically determines whether said virtual connection can be created, wherein said first asynchronous transfer mode switch has a first connection admission control module therein to determine whether said virtual connection can be connected through said first asynchronous transfer mode switch and said second asynchronous transfer mode switch has a second connection admission control module therein to determine whether said virtual connection can be connected through said second asynchronous transfer mode switch.

1 more element

(a) monitoring said path utilization level of each virtual path in one grouping of virtual paths of said plurality of virtual paths to generate a path usage amount;
(b) combining said path usage amounts of each virtual path of said one grouping of virtual paths to monitor said grouping utilization level of said one grouping of virtual paths by:
(b1) checking said utilization level of each virtual path of said one grouping of virtual paths;
(b2) updating a virtual path amount of available bandwidth for each virtual path of said one grouping of virtual paths;
and
(b3) comparing said virtual path amount of available bandwidth with a maximum virtual path threshold for said available bandwidth and setting an overload virtual path condition if said virtual path amount of available bandwidth exceeds said maximum virtual path threshold and clearing said overload condition if said virtual path amount of available bandwidth is below said maximum virtual path threshold;
(b4) requesting a block of an additional bandwidth from said physical interface if said virtual path amount of available bandwidth exceeds said maximum virtual path threshold;
and
(b5) searching for violations of terms and conditions of client contracts and taking measures to enforce client contracts if said block of said additional bandwidth from said physical interface is not available.

6 more elements

A system of monitoring use of a network, said network used to transfer information from a first location to a second location, comprising:

(a) a plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches that are interconnected with one another via at least one physical interface to form said network and a virtual path group connecting one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches to at least one other interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches via a first physical interface of said at least one physical interface, said virtual path group comprised of at least one virtual path, each virtual path is comprised of at least one virtual channel;
and
(b) a system control module connected to at least one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches, said system control module determines whether said virtual path group can be created in said network, said system control module determines whether said at least one virtual channel of each said virtual path can be created in said network, wherein a client is allowed to use said network under certain circumstances, and further wherein said system control module compares a request from said client to use said virtual path group with a contract with said client having terms and conditions governing said certain circumstances to determine whether said request of said client is compliant with said terms and conditions found in said contract and further wherein said virtual connection is comprised of at least one virtual path group and each virtual path group of said at least one virtual path group is comprised of at least one virtual path and further wherein each virtual path group has a first utilization level and each virtual path has a second utilization level and said system control module checks said second utilization level of each virtual path in one virtual path group and then said first utilization level of said virtual path group.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Dynamic control processes and systems for asynchronous transfer mode networks

Life of this patent

Dynamic control processes and systems for asynchronous transfer mode networks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims60