US 7,096,281 B2Granted

Efficient connectivity between multiple topology subnets via common connection network

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsRoy F. Brabson, Patrick G. Brown, Ralph B. Case, Wesley McMillan Devine, Johnathan Louis Harter, Samuel E. Reynolds

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Abstract

An improved technique is disclosed for routing data across multiple topology subnets, and for improving the connectivity between nodes in multiple topology subnets, by using a common connection network. A new type of virtual node, referred to herein as a “global” virtual routing node or “GVRN”, is defined to represent connectivity to an underlying network that may extend beyond the boundaries of the topology subnets in the end-to-end path. This underlying network is also referred to as a “common connection network” or a “global connection network”. The present invention also defines novel techniques with which border nodes pass routing information between networks to convey connectivity to the GVRN. In many cases, use of GVRNs will result in shorter end-to-end data transmission paths.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method of improving connectivity among topology subnets using a common connection network, comprising:

determining, by a border node located at a border of a particular one of the topology subnets, one or more links between the border node and a neighboring border node located at the border of a different one of the topology subnets, wherein a first session endpoint resides in the particular one of the topology subnets and has connectivity to a global virtual routing node (“GVRN”);
creating a list of the determined links;
determining that the first session endpoint has connectivity to the GVRN and adding link information to the created list to represent the determined connectivity of the first session endpoint to the GVRN;
forwarding the list to the neighboring border node;
receiving, at the neighboring border node, the list;
determining whether a second session endpoint, which resides in the different one of the topology subnets, has connectivity to the GVRN or to another GVRN, and, when the second session endpoint has connectivity to the GVRN or to another GVRN, adding link information to the list to represent the determined connectivity;
and
using the list to select a data transmission path between the first session endpoint and the second session endpoint.

5 more elements

A computer program product for improving connectivity among topology subnets using a common connection network, the computer program product embodied on one or more computer readable media and comprising:

computer readable program code that is configured to determine, by a border node located at a border of a particular one of the topology subnets, one or more links between the border node and a neighboring border node located at the border of a different one of the topology subnets, wherein a first session endpoint resides in the particular one of the topology subnets and has connectivity to a global virtual routing node (“GVRN”);
computer readable program code that is configured to create a list of the determined links;
computer readable program code that is configured to determine that the first session endpoint has connectivity to the GVRN and to add link information to the list to represent the determined connectivity of the first session endpoint to the GVRN;
computer readable program code that is configured to forward the list to the neighboring border node;
computer readable program code that is configured to receive, at the neighboring border node, the list;
computer readable program code that is configured to determine whether a second session endpoint, which resides in the different one of the topology subnets, has connectivity to the GVRN or to another GVRN, and, when the second session endpoint has connectivity to the GVRN or to another GVRN, to add link information to the list to represent the determined connectivity;
and
computer readable program code that is configured to use the list to select a data transmission path between the first session endpoint and the second session endpoint.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.