US 7,626,994 B2Granted

Multiple node applications cooperatively managing a plurality of packet switched network pathways

AssigneeBroadcom Corporation

InventorJames D. Bennett

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Abstract

End-point devices, access points and other types of network nodes each employ multi-path management software to manage communication via multiple possible paths to the Internet backbone from communication applications that run on an end-point device. Although the multi-path management software on an end-point device may operate independently, it may also cooperate with the local communication applications and the multi-path management software located on the access points or other network nodes to select one or more pathways for the local communication applications. Alternatively, the multi-path management software of an end-point device may pass all or a portion of such management responsibility to a local communication application and/or to multi-path management software of another network node. In addition to managing the selection of one or more pathways, the multi-path management software seamlessly switches pathways as may become necessary to meet changing network conditions or bandwidth demands.

Claims9

Dependent claims

A computing device in a packet switched network having a plurality of access points, the computing device comprising:

a plurality of communication interfaces, each of the plurality of communication interfaces having at least one unique network address delivered through a corresponding one of the plurality of access points;
a first lower layer module that is operable to communicatively couple with a first communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces, in which the first communication interface operates with a first access point for a data exchange between the computing device and an upstream device via a first path;
a second lower layer module that is operable to communicatively couple with a second communication interface of the plurality of communication interfaces, in which the second communication interface operates with a second access point for the data exchange between the computing device and the upstream device via a second path, wherein the first and second paths are alternative paths for the same data exchange;
an upper layer protocol manager that selects the first communication interface and the first lower layer module for the data exchange based on a selected communication factor;
and
the upper layer protocol manager to respond to a change in a characteristic of the first path associated with the communication factor by seamlessly switching from the first path having the first communication interface and the first lower layer module to the second path having the second communication interface and the second lower layer module to perform the data exchange.

3 more elements

A computing circuitry comprising:

memory that stores at least a portion of a communication application and at least a portion of a device driver, the device driver comprising a plurality of single-path sub-driver portions;
processing circuitry communicatively coupled to the memory;
a plurality of communication interfaces that each communicatively couple with the processing circuitry through execution by the processing circuitry of a corresponding one of the plurality of single-path sub-driver portions of the device driver, in which the plurality of communication interfaces includes a first communication interface that operates with a first single-path sub-driver portion to perform a data exchange between the communication circuitry and an upstream device via a first path that includes a first access point and in which the plurality of communication interfaces also includes a second communication interface that operates with a second single-path sub-driver portion to perform the data exchange between the communication circuitry and the upstream device via a second path that includes a second access point, wherein the first and second paths are alternative paths for the same data exchange;
the processing circuitry to identify a communication factor corresponding to the communication application and based on the communication factor, the processing circuitry selects the first path for the communication exchange and the processing circuitry to respond to a change in a characteristic of the first path associated with the communication factor by seamlessly switching from the first path having the first communication interface to the second path having the second communication interface in response to a change in the characteristic associated with the communication factor.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/365,102Filed 1 Mar 2006 · us provisional application
Priority: 14 Nov 2005
Published: US 2007/0110080 A117 May 2007
Granted: 1 Dec 2009
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification11 codes

H04L 12/5692
Access to open networks; Ingress point selection, e.g. ISP selection: selection among different networks
H04L 41/00
Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks
H04L 41/344
Signalling channels for network management communication: out-of-band transfers
H04L 45/22
Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks: alternate routing