Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like employing a method and apparatus for automatically determining the topology of the network is described. The method and apparatus provides for each switch in the network transmitting on each of its ports link advertisement messages (without processing intervention by intermediate switches). The link advertisement messages are received by neighbor switches and forwarded to a topology manager. The topology manager constructs network topology profile information based on received link advertisement messages. Further, the topology manager is able to verify bidirection links based on the received link advertisement messages.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like employing a method and apparatus for automatically determining the topology of the network is described. The method and apparatus provides for each switch in the network transmitting on each of its ports link advertisement messages (without processing intervention by intermediate switches). The link advertisement messages are received by neighbor switches and forwarded to a topology manager. The topology manager constructs network topology profile information based on received link advertisement messages. Further, the topology manager is able to verify bidirection links based on the received link advertisement messages.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like providing for dynamic client discovery. Clients transmit client registration messages over the virtual service paths of their associated switches to the central management supervisor. Responsive to receiving the client registration message, the central management supervisor updates its registration tables and transmits a client registration acknowledgement, again over the virtual service path. By using the virtual service path of their associated switch to effect communication with the central management supervisor, there is no need to incur overhead of having the transmission managed by the associated switch's (and intermediate switch's) controller. Rather, the switch merely acts to update the cell's header using the switch's switch fabric. Keep alive messages are exchanged, again over the virtual service path, between the central management supervisor and the client.

Abstract: A synchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like employing a method and apparatus for automatically determining the topology of the network is described. The method and apparatus provides for each switch in the network transmitting on each of its ports link advertisement messages (without processing intervention by intermediate switches). The link advertisement messages are received by neighbor switches and forwarded to a topology manager. The topology manager constructs network topology profile information based on received link advertisement messages. Further, the topology manager is able to verify bidirection links based on the received link advertisement messages.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like employing a method and apparatus for automatically determining the topology of the network is described. The method and apparatus provides for each switch in the network transmitting on each of its ports link advertisement messages (without processing intervention by intermediate switches). The link advertisement messages are received by neighbor switches and forwarded to a topology manager. The topology manager constructs network topology profile information based on received link advertisement messages. Further, the topology manager is able to verify bidirection links based on the received link advertisement messages.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like employing a method and apparatus for automatically determining the topology of the network is described. The method and apparatus provides for each switch in the network transmitting on each of its ports link advertisement messages (without processing intervention by intermediate switches). The link advertisement messages are received by neighbor switches and forwarded to a topology manager. The topology manager constructs network topology profile information based on received link advertisement messages. Further, the topology manager is able to verify bidirection links based on the received link advertisement messages.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like having a plurality of switches which may each be coupled with a central service provider over a virtual service path. Service requests, grants of service, and other control information for the network may then be communicated between each of said switches and the central service provider over virtual communication channels within said virtual service path. The disclosed method and apparatus provides for efficient communication of service requests and service grants without requirement to establish new communications paths between the individual switches and the central service provider for each request. Further, the ATM network may be managed by the central service provider as a logical star network.

Abstract: A data communications network providing for a multiport router and providing for use of an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch or the like as a routing backplane or packet switching engine. A router front end formats ATM cells including providing routing information in the cell header. The routing information may comprise, for example, a destination port identifier in the VPI field of the cell header. The ATM switch then switches the cell from an input port, coupled with the router front end to an output port based on the routing information. The ATM switch may also translate the routing information to provide source identification information to the destination. In a described embodiment, the multiport router is used as a backplane bus in a network concentrator.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network or the like providing for booting of switches from one or more boot servers. The booting process comprises the steps of a switch querying as to possible communication paths with a boot manager and then establishing a boot communication channel with the boot manager. Boot messages are then communicated over the boot communication channel. Importantly, boot messages may be transmitted between the booting switch and the boot manager through a neighboring switch and intermediate switches by using the neighboring switch's virtual service path to effect such communication. This allows communication of these messages through translation by the neighbor's and the intermediate switch's switch fabric and without need for utilization of the neighbor's or the intermediate switch's switch controller.

Abstract: A topology-independent method and apparatus for avoiding continuous looping of transmission of cells and for allowing broadcast of cells in a network implementing Asynchronous Transfer Mode ("ATM") or similar networking architectures. The disclosed method and apparatus provides for "misusing" fields in a cell header in order to provide for information identifying a cell as a broadcast cell and to provide for "expiration information" in the cell header. More specifically, a first station stores data in a first area of a cell intended for transmission on the network, where the first area is defined by standards to store certain information (in particular, it is defined in the preferred embodiment to store virtual path identifier information, VPI). The information stored identifies the cell as a broadcast cell. In other words, the field is "misused" to store this information.