Method and apparatus for reducing load distribution delay in an internet protocol switch
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsSanjay H. Rao, Kenneth W. Oxendine, Richard Sigler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Method and apparatus for reducing load distribution delay in an internet protocol switch. A system of messaging allows leader and follower cards within a switch to communicate without spanning the external network and without significant involvement by the central computing module within a switch. When a call setup request is received by a leader card, it sends a broadcast message to follower cards within a multicast group. Each follower card responds with address and channel information which enable the leader card to perform load balancing and establish a connection through the appropriate follower card.
Claims12
A method in a switch of establishing a network connection with an initiating endpoint, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving at a leader card, a setup message from the initiating endpoint;
- broadcasting a broadcast message to one or more follower cards in multicast group;
- receiving at the leader card, one or more response messages to the broadcast message, each response message including address information for one follower card;
- and
- negotiating the network connection through a follower card so that an even connection distribution is established among available follower cards.
A method in a switch of establishing a network connection with an initiating endpoint, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving at a leader card, a setup message from the initiating endpoint;
- broadcasting a broadcast message to one or more follower cards in multicast group;
- receiving at the leader card, one or more response messages to the broadcast message, each response message including address information for one follower card;
- and
- negotiating the network connection through a follower card so that an even connection distribution is established among available follower cards;
- wherein the broadcast and response messages are in user datagram protocol (UDP) format;
- wherein the broadcast and response messages include a message type field, a callid field, and an internet protocol (IP) address and port number field;
- and
- wherein the response message also-includes a channel identification information field.
Apparatus for establishing a network connection with an initiating endpoint, the apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving a setup message from initiating endpoint;
- means for broadcasting a broadcast message to or more follower cards in a multicast group;
- means for receiving at a leader card, one or more response messages to the broadcast message, each response including address information for one follower card;
- and
- means for negotiating the network connection through a follower card so that an even connection distribution is established among available follower cards.
Apparatus for establishing a network connection with an initiating endpoint, the apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving a setup message from initiating endpoint;
- means for broadcasting a broadcast message to or more follower cards in a multicast group;
- means for receiving at a leader card, one or more response messages to the broadcast message, each response including address information for one follower card;
- and
- means for negotiating the network connection through a follower card so that an even connection distribution is established among available follower cards;
- wherein the broadcast and response messages are in user datagram protocol (UDP) format;
- wherein the broadcast and response messages include a message type field, a callid field, and an internet protocol (IP) address and port number field;
- and
- wherein the response message also includes a channel identification information field.
A switch for establishing a network connection with an initiating endpoint, the switch including a leader card and at least one follower card, the switch further including a computer program comprising:
- computer program code for receiving, at the leader card, a setup message from the initiating endpoint;
- computer program code for broadcasting a broadcast message for one or more adapter cards in a multicast group;
- computer program code for receiving at a leader card, one or more response messages to the broadcast message, each response including address information for one follower card;
- and
- computer program code for negotiating the network connection through a follower card so that an even connection distribution is established among available follower cards.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.