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US 6,785,226 B1Granted
System and method for data routing over a network
AssigneeCarriercomm, Inc.
InventorsDavid Kelly Oltman, Jim Harris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates in general to communication networks. In particular, the invention relates to a communication network in which nodes communicate via radio connections employing Ethernet protocol in a ring configuration which provides for fault tolerance and prevention of infinite communication loops. In a preferred embodiment, the network is in a ring configuration and comprises two routers for enabling fault tolerance in the event of a malfunctioning communication link and for preventing infinite message forwarding around the ring network. VLANS may be beneficially employed to assist with rerouting of data communication traffic in the event of a communication link failure and to aid in isolating customer network data from unauthorized viewing.
Claims69
A system for routing data over a network having a plurality of nodes, the system comprising:
- a plurality of serially linked network nodes, wherein each node of said plurality of nodes comprises a radio communication link to at least one immediately neighboring network node;
- and
- at least two routers disposed in said plurality of serially linked network nodes that cooperate to provide fault tolerance in case of a radio communication link malfunction and to prevent infinite message forwarding along said serially linked network nodes, wherein said tow routers create a logical break positioned in said network so as to create two substantially equal communication segments in said network.
A system for providing fault tolerant data routing over a network, the system comprising:
- a plurality of nodes connected so as to form a ring network;
- bi-directional radio communication links connecting each node of said plurality of nodes to at least one immediately neighboring node in said ring network, thereby generating radio communication, wherein O.S.I. layer two switching in employed in directing data in said ring network;
- and
- at least two O.S.I. layer three routers deployed at different nodes in said ring network that cooperate to provide fault tolerant data routing in said ring network, wherein one router of said at least two routers creates a logical break in communication within the ring network during normal operating conditions.
1 more element
A system for routing data over a network, the system comprising:
- a plurality of nodes connected so as to form a ring network;
- bi-directional radio communication links connecting each node of said plurality of nodes to at least one immediately neighboring node in said ring network, wherein Ethernet switching is employed to direct data communication in said ring network;
- an access router to serve as a hub for all communication occurring within said ring network;
- an end router to form a logical break in the ring network thereby cooperating with said access router to produce two substantially operationally independent segments of said ring network;
- and
- a plurality of virtual local area networks connecting customer networks to said access router, wherein each virtual local area network is associated with a unique customer network.
3 more elements
A system for routing data over a network, the system comprising:
- a plurality of network nodes serially linked so as to form a ring network, wherein each node of said plurality of nodes is in bi-directional communication with both of its immediately neighboring network nodes, and wherein O.S.I. layer two protocol is employed in said bi-directional communication;
- two cooperating O.S.I. layer three routers deployed on different nodes in said ring network, wherein one router of said two routers is configured to establish a logical break in the ring network thereby providing for fault tolerance in said ring network, wherein the logical break in the ring network operates to produce two substantially independent communication paths in said ring network.
A method for establishing a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- deploying a plurality of nodes in communication with one another to provide a ring network;
- establishing at least one node as an access node to provide network services to other nodes on the network:
- disposing a router at said access node to thereby provide an access router;
- establishing at least one node as a logical end node to provide segmenting of said ring;
- disposing a router at said end node to thereby provide an end router;
- and
- configuring said end router to provide a logical break in said ring to thereby provide said segmenting of said ring and cooperate with said access router to alter said logical break in said ring network upon a physical link failure in said ring network, relocating said logical break to a location of said physical link failure in said ring network.
4 more elements
A method for establishing a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- deploying a plurality of nodes in communication with one another to provide a ring network;
- establishing at least one node as an access node to provide network services to other nodes on the network;
- disposing a router at said access node to thereby provide an access router:
- establishing at least one node as a logical end node to provide segmenting of said ring;
- disposing a router at said end node to thereby provide an end router;
- and
- configuring said end router to provide a logical break in said ring to thereby provide said segmenting of said ring and cooperate with said access router to alter said logical break in said ring network upon an unacceptably slow communication link.
4 more elements
A method for establishing a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- deploying a plurality of nodes in communication with one another to provide a ring network;
- establishing at least one node as an access node to provide network services to other nodes on the network;
- disposing a router at said access node to thereby provide an access router;
- establishing at least one node as a logical end node to provide segmenting of said ring;
- disposing a router at said end node to thereby provide an end router;
- configuring said end router to provide a logical break in said ring to thereby provide said segmenting of said ring and cooperate with said access router to alter said logical break in said ring network upon;
- and
- locating said end node such that the segmenting of the ring provides ring segments having substantially equal communication bandwidth.
5 more elements
A method for establishing a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- deploying a plurality of nodes in communication with one another to provide a ring network;
- establishing at least one node as an access node to provide network services to other nodes on the network;
- disposing a router at said access node to thereby provide an access router;
- establishing at least one node as a logical end node to provide segmenting of said ring;
- disposing a router at said end node to thereby provide an end router;
- configuring said end router to provide a logical break in said ring to thereby provide said segmenting of said ring and cooperate with said access router to alter said logical break in said ring network upon;
- and
- locating said end node such that the segmenting of the ring provides ring segments having a substantially equal number of nodes.
5 more elements
A method for establishing a network, the method comprising the steps of:
- deploying a plurality of nodes in communication with one another to provide a ring network;
- establishing at least one node as an access node to provide network services to other nodes on the network;
- disposing a router at said access node to thereby provide an access router;
- establishing at feast one node as a logical end node to provide segmenting of said ring;
- disposing a router at said end node to thereby provide an end router;
- configuring said end router to provide a logical break in said ring to thereby provide said segmenting of said ring and cooperate with said access router to alter said logical break in said ring network upon;
- and
- locating said end node such that the segmenting of the ring provides ring segments having a substantially equal risk of communication link failure.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.