US 6,785,725 B1 · Signaling address resolution in a communication network

Abstract

A network configuration and method provide communication setup between neighbor nodes in a communication network, without broadcasting this setup information over the network. A signaling bandwidth separated from the data communication channel bandwidth facilitates address resolution over a common transmission medium. The user is not required to know any physical address properties of the neighbor nodes. This reduces the complexity of the information that a network administrator is required to manage. This processing feeds into a complete address resolution table, which is employed for controlling network communication over the main data communication channel bandwidth. Typically, substantially continuous transmission and/or reception over the signaling bandwidth is useful not only to determine the neighbor node's active address upon startup, but also while the network is running, to detect if a signaling element has been exchanged or has changed activity. The address resolution is automatically updated to reflect a new configuration.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method of signaling address resolution in a communication network between a first network device and a second network device neighboring said first network device and being connected to said first network device by a transmission medium, said communication network utilizing a communication channel bandwidth of said transmission medium for network communication, said method comprising:

a) establishing a dedicated signaling bandwidth in said transmission medium for non-broadcast communication between said first network device and said second network device, said dedicated signaling bandwidth being outside said communication channel bandwidth;
b) periodically transmitting a physical address information of said first network device from said first network device to said second network device over said transmission medium in said dedicated signaling bandwidth;
c) receiving said physical address information of said first network device by said second network device;
and
d) employing said physical address information for controlling network communication between said first network device and said second network device in said communication channel bandwidth.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Signaling address resolution in a communication network

Life of this patent

Signaling address resolution in a communication network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29