Method and system for enhancing communications efficiency in data communications networks
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorJonathan Luke Weston-Dawkes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system for use within at least one network. The method and system achieve their objects via computing equipment engineered to do the following: define of one or more subnetworks within the at least one network; define of one or more alternate data paths utilizing different criteria than that utilized by the network protocols controlling the one or more subnetworks; and designate that certain user data travel on the one or more alternate data paths.
Claims25
A method for enhancing communications efficiency in a data communication network, said method comprising the steps of:
- routing a first set of data through one or more subnetworks on a first network level that implements a network protocol for routing said data along a first data path;
- defining one or more alternate data paths on a second level of said one or more subnetworks for routing data utilizing different criteria than that utilized by said network protocol;
- designating that a second set of data travel on the one or more alternate data paths said designating step including tagging at least one data unit relative to a specific alternate data path;
- passing received data to a higher level processing entity when said data has not been tagged for forwarding along said one or more alternate paths, wherein tagged data are automatically held for forwarding at said second level;
- and
- routing said second set of data on said one or more alternate data paths, wherein data not designated to travel on said one or more alternate data paths are routed on said first data path.
A system for providing a communications path within at least one network, said system comprising:
- one or more subnetworks having a first logical level at which standard network protocol routing is implemented and a second physical level at which a different routing mechanism is implemented;
- means for defining one or more alternate data paths on said second physical level, different from a first data path on said first logical level utilizing different criteria than that utilized by the network protocol controlling the one or more subnetworks;
- means for designating that a subset of data travel on the one or more alternate data paths, while the remaining data travel on the first data path;
- and
- means for passing received data to a higher level processing entity when said data has not been designated for forwarding along said one or more alternate paths, wherein designated data are automatically held for forwarding at said second level.
A method for routing data within a network comprising at least one subnetwork, wherein said network is configured with multiple levels including a physical level at which network elements are connected and a logical level at which a network protocol is implemented for data routing, said method comprising:
- receiving a first subset of data and a second subset of data at a network node;
- and
- differentiating said first subset of data from said second subset of data utilizing predefined criteria;
- defining a lattice of alternate routing paths on said physical level taking into consideration an available underlying physical structure and connections of said network;
- executing logic capable of routing data from a source to a destination via said underlying physical structure;
- routing said first subset of data via said logical level utilizing said network protocol;
- and
- concurrently routing said second subset of data via a selected path on said physical level.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.