The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 1993
Filed:
Oct. 15, 1990
Radia J Perlman, Acton, MA (US);
George A Harvey, Maynard, MA (US);
Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, MA (US);
Abstract
A technique for distributing updated distance vectors used in routers, which are connected by point-to-point links having datagram service. Distance vectors are used by routers to route messages over the most desirable paths, but must be continually modified as a result of update messages passed between routers, to reflect changes in network topology. Datagram service does not normally ensure that such update messages will reach other routers, but the technique of the invention uses unique sequence numbers on all information packets containing distance vector update messages, and achieves efficient and timely distribution of updated distance vector information with only a modest storage requirements. Unlike reliable service, which requires each message to be delivered exactly once and in the order sent, the invention allows subsequent update messages to be delivered to the same neighboring router even if previous messages have not yet been received and processed. The invention also provides for retransmission of unacknowledged distance vector information, but without the burden of having to store all transmitted packets until they are acknowledged.