The Boeing Company

Michael A Dorsett

Michael S Foster

Arun Ayyagari

Brian J Smith

Craig Farris Battles

Winfeng Li

Marcelo M Albuquerque

Computer-implemented methods are disclosed for the application of potential field methods in directing agents. A task is assigned for each of a plurality of mobile communication nodes. A dynamic model is assigned for characterizing a behavior of the nodes. Potential fields are applied to the dynamic model to direct movement of each of the nodes such that the nodes each perform the assigned task with the plurality of mobile communications nodes providing a communications network to serve a communications area.

Application of potential field methods in directing agents

Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed to facilitate operation of a network. First network state data descriptive of a first network state is received. The first network data includes network demand associated with nodes of a dynamic network, where the nodes of the dynamic network include at least one movable node. The first network data also includes a node state of each node of the dynamic network. At least one first link is automatically established between two or more nodes of the dynamic network to satisfy at least a portion of the network demand. Link data is generated where the link data is descriptive of node utilization, the at least one first link, and assignment of the portion of the network demand to the at least one first link. One or more changes to the dynamic network are modeled based on the link data to identify a second network state, wherein the second network state satisfies a greater quantity of the network demand than the first network state.

System and method for demand driven network topology management

A system for managing internetwork communications among a plurality of networks includes: (a) a plurality of edge network nodes; each respective edge network node being coupled to manage internetwork communications between a respective own network and other networks of the plurality of networks than the respective own network; and (b) at least one gateway-capable edge network node communicatingly coupled with each respective network node. Each respective edge network node includes a native communication network management unit for managing communications by the respective edge network node using a native communication protocol. Each respective edge network node includes an overlay communication network management unit for managing communications by the respective edge network node using an overlay communication protocol.

System and method for managing internetwork communications among a plurality of networks

A method is described for routing data from a first node to a second node via a gateway. The second node is detected at the gateway, which determines a local identifier of the second node. A name and a global address are associated with the second node. The name and the global address are published to a name service, such that the first node can retrieve the global address based on the name. The gateway receives data from the first node that is addressed to the global address and transmits the data to the second node using the local identifier. The gateway includes software implementing a service-oriented architecture (SOA). Any number of additional services may be added to process messages passing through the gateway.

Methods and apparatus for routing data to nodes

According to an embodiment, a method includes a Delay Tolerant Network (DTN) software overlay residing in a first plane of a node of the network is used to define hierarchical forwarding behavior for data being generated in the first plane. In a second plane of the network, local buffering and data retransmission is performed in response to at least one intermittent network outage. Communication between the first and second planes is performed to manage the transmission of data between the first and second planes as needed in the event of at network outage that is longer in duration than the at least one intermittent network outage, to thus prevent the loss of data.

Quality of service, policy enhanced hierarchical disruption tolerant networking system and method

Techniques for communicating data through a network so as to satisfy various Quality Of Service ('QOS') levels are described. The QOS levels may be selected based on a determined type of the data or the data communication, such as by a network manager after the data communication is registered, and QOS communication parameters are selected for the data communication to ensure that the QOS levels are achieved. Other techniques may also be used to ensure that a selected QOS level is achieved, including selecting an appropriate path through the network, controlling other data communications that use some or all of the selected path, and/or enabling preemption of such other data communications. QOS levels that are actually achieved may also be monitored, and the QOS communication parameters and/or path for a data communication may be dynamically modified based on differences between actual achieved QOS levels and desired QOS levels.

Communicating data through a network so as to ensure quality of service

A method and system for managing an interconnect fabric that connects nodes. A network manager manages an interconnect fabric or network of routing devices (e.g., interconnect fabric modules, switches, or routers) to allow source nodes to transmit data to destination nodes. The network manager receives registration requests from source nodes to send data to destination nodes, configures the routing devices of the network to establish a path from each source node to its destination node, and provides a virtual address to each source node. The virtual address identifies a path from the source node to the destination node. The source node sends the data to its destination node by providing the data along with the virtual address to a routing device of the network.

Method and system for path building in a communications network

An interconnect fabric module ('IFM') with high-speed switching capabilities. An interconnect fabric module can be dynamically configured to interconnect its communications ports so that data can be transmitted through the interconnected ports. Multiple interconnect fabric modules can be connected to form an interconnect fabric through which nodes (e.g., computer systems) can be interconnected. In one embodiment, data is transmitted through the interconnect fabric as frames such as those defined by the Fibre Channel and InfiniBand standards. The interconnect fabric module allows the creation of an interconnect fabric that is especially well suited for interconnecting devices utilizing multiple information types such as might be required by the devices of an enterprise data network ('EDN').

Method and system for virtual addressing in a communications network

A method, system, and computer-readable medium for integrating multiple techniques for processing data communications is described in which the processing steps shared by multiple of the techniques do not have to be duplicated by each of the techniques. In some situations, some or all of the multiple processing techniques are performed in parallel, such as on different processors. In some situations, a Multi-Protocol Edge Switch ('MPEX') is used to integrate multiple processing techniques for received data communications that are to be forwarded to a destination, such as by performing protocol translation, performing load balancing between multiple alternative destinations on one or more of the networks to which the MPEX belongs, performing firewall and other content-based analysis for any or all of the nodes on one or more of the networks to which the MPEX belongs, and/or providing content-based routing of data communications in order to identify appropriate destinations.

Integrated analysis of incoming data transmissions

An interconnect fabric module ('IFM') with high-speed switching capabilities. An interconnect fabric module can be dynamically configured to interconnect its communications ports so that data can be transmitted through the interconnected ports. Multiple interconnect fabric modules can be connected to form an interconnect fabric through which nodes (e.g., computer systems) can be interconnected. In one embodiment, data is transmitted through the interconnect fabric as frames such as those defined by the Fiber Channel and InfiniBand standards. The interconnect fabric module allows the creation of an interconnect fabric that is especially well suited for interconnecting devices utilizing multiple information types such as might be required by the devices of an enterprise data network ('EDN').

Growing community of inventors

Federal Way, WA, United States of America

Michael A Dorsett