Abstract: When computing a least weight path from an origin node to a destination node in a data communication network, a route-computing network node uses information provided by the origin and destination nodes to compute least weight routes from those nodes to adjacent network nodes. The route-computing network node uses information in the topology database to compute least weight routes from network nodes adjacent the origin node to network nodes adjacent the destination node. The results of the computations are concatenated to determine an optimum route from the origin node to the destination node. The topology database need not include information about the transmission groups connecting the origin/destination nodes to network nodes.

Abstract: Each network node in a communications network maintains its own copy of the network topology database defining network resources. Each resource record contains a "timer" field which is initially set to a maximum value but which may be decremented on a daily basis. If the timer field is decremented to zero without being reset, the node unilaterally removes the resource record from its copy of the database. The timer field will normally reach zero only for obsolete resource records since each network node responsible for a resource broadcasts a timer-resetting message for the resource (1) each time the resource status changes, (2) when the node first joins or rejoins the network, and (3) on a periodic (weekly) basis regardless of whether conditions (1) or (2) have occurred.

Abstract: A technique called "Adaptive Pacing" permits a receiving node, in a computing networking, to change the size of an information window during an active session. To effect the change, the receiving node sends an "Isolated Pacing Message" (IPM) to the sending node. Thereafter, the sending node adjusts the window size to conform with a window size value in the IPM. The IPM includes a type field, a reset window indicator and a next window size field. There are three types of isolated pacing messages. Two of the messages are used by the receiving node to control the flow of data; while the third message is used, by the sending node, to confirm the beginning of a new window and the ending of an old one.

Abstract: Disclosed is a communication transport message format for carrying control information, relevant only to a transport system and end user data. The end user data is prefixed by a length field. The length field is set to a value representing the number of bytes of user data plus the size of the length field. A bit in the length field is used as a "continuation" or more-to-come indicator. Length field values that are less than the number of bytes of the length field are used to prefix control information.

Abstract: A facility called "Gateway" is used to interconnect a plurality of independently controlled communication networks so that logical units (LUs) in the networks can communicate with one another without any changes to the network. The gateway includes a programmable device or devices which establish and monitor cross network sessions and for each formatted message, on the session, the programmable device changes the contents on the request unit (RU) and/or the transmission header (TH) fields so that data is delivered to a target LU. The changes include address translation within the TH field, and/or address and name translation within the RU field.