Technique for capturing information needed to implement transmission priority routing among heterogeneous nodes of a computer network

#The invention relates to computer networks and, more particularly, to the efficient acquisition of predetermined information by nodes of a computer network.

#Data communication in a computer network involves the exchange of data between two or more entities interconnected by communication links and subnetworks. These entities are typically software programs executing on hardware computer platforms, such as end stations and intermediate stations. Examples of an intermediate station may be a router or switch which interconnects the communication links and subnetworks to enable transmission of data between the end stations. A local area network (LAN) is an example of a subnetwork that provides relatively short distance communication among the interconnected stations; in contrast, a wide area network (WAN) enables long distance communication over links provided by public or private telecommunications facilities.

#Communication software executing on the end stations correlate and manage data communication with other end stations. The stations typically communicate by exchanging discrete packets or frames of data according to predefined protocols. In this context, a protocol consists of a set of rules defining how the stations interact with each other. In addition, network routing software executing on the routers allow expansion of communication to other end stations. Collectively, these hardware and software components comprise a communications network and their interconnections are defined by an underlying architecture.

#The above and further advantages of the invention may be better understood by referring to the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of prior art communications architecture protocol stacks, such as the Internet protocol stack, used to transmit data between stations of a computer network;

#FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a prior art Advanced Peer to Peer Networking (APPN) network including APPN nodes;

#FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a computer network 500 comprising a collection of interconnected communication links and subnetworks attached to a plurality of stations. The stations are typically computers comprising end stations 502, 512 and intermediate stations 550, 610, 650. Preferably, the end stations are Advanced Peer to Peer Networking (APPN) end nodes, although the stations may comprise other types of nodes such as Low Entry Networking nodes or Physical Units 2.0 via Dependent Logical Unit Requestor functions. In addition, the intermediate stations 610, 650 are data link switching (DLSw) nodes and intermediate station 550 is an APPN/DLSw hybrid node.

#Each node typically comprises a plurality of interconnected elements, such as a processor, a memory and a network adapter. The memory may comprise storage locations addressable by the processor and adapter for storing software programs and data structures associated with the inventive information capturing techniques. The processor may comprise processing elements or logic for executing the software programs and manipulating the data structures. An operating system, portions of which are typically resident in memory and executed by the processor, functionally organizes the node by, inter alia, invoking network operations in support of software processes executing on the node. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that other memory means, including various computer readable media, may be used for storing executable program instructions pertaining to the techniques described herein.

#The subnetworks included within network 500 are preferably local area networks (LANs) and the communication links may include wide area network (WAN) links; in the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the LANs are preferably token rings (TR) 504, 514 and an IP network 510, which may comprise either a LAN and/or a WAN configuration such as X.25, inteconnects the nodes 550, 610, 650. Communication among the nodes coupled to the network 500 is typically effected by exchanging discrete data packets or frames via connection-oriented service sessions between the communicating nodes.