초록 ▼

A system and method for progressively identifying and configuring the nodes of a network having an unknown or partially unknown topology are presented. A special all-node address indicator is designated for insertion in a packet to be sent from a given node with known node address to a next adjacent

A system and method for progressively identifying and configuring the nodes of a network having an unknown or partially unknown topology are presented. A special all-node address indicator is designated for insertion in a packet to be sent from a given node with known node address to a next adjacent node with unknown node address. Each node contains a port control register for each port of the node which when set instructs the node to insert the all-node address indicator into a packet to be forwarded to a next adjacent node in the network with unknown node address. The port control registers are remotely selectively set by one or more managing nodes of the network. Race condition is avoided by provision of a set count register associated with an address node register and managing node address register within each node of the network. A node can be configured only if the previously read set count value remains unchanged between reading of and writing to the address node register or managing node address register. Provision for identifying additions, deletions and other changes to the network automatically is also provided.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A system for use in identifying the topology of a network having a plurality of nodes, each node having a port for transfer of a packet to a next adjacent node in the network, said system comprising:an all-node address indicator for selective insertion in a field of the p

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A system for use in identifying the topology of a network having a plurality of nodes, each node having a port for transfer of a packet to a next adjacent node in the network, said system comprising:an all-node address indicator for selective insertion in a field of the packet according to whether a node address of the next adjacent node is known, wherein when inserted in the field of the packet, said all-node address indicator causes the packet to be received by the next adjacent node in the network notwithstanding that said node address of the next adjacent node in the network is unknown when forwarding the packet;means for selectively inserting the all-node address indicator into said field of said packet at each node in the network with a known node address when said node with a known address has a next adjacent node in the network with an unknown node address to address and thereby identify said next adjacent node; andwherein said means for selectively inserting comprises means for not inserting the all-node address indicator when said node with a known address has a next adjacent node with a known address.