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:
Jan. 08, 2013
Filed:
Oct. 26, 2005
Joshua D. Voigt, Westminster, CO (US);
Christopher T. Coston, Superior, CO (US);
Robert J. Feuerstein, Boulder, CO (US);
Daniel Youngblood, Broomfield, CO (US);
Dan Rosenstock, Broomfield, CO (US);
Troy Kau, Arvada, CO (US);
Greg Bernhardt, Thornton, CO (US);
Joshua D. Voigt, Westminster, CO (US);
Christopher T. Coston, Superior, CO (US);
Robert J. Feuerstein, Boulder, CO (US);
Daniel Youngblood, Broomfield, CO (US);
Dan Rosenstock, Broomfield, CO (US);
Troy Kau, Arvada, CO (US);
Greg Bernhardt, Thornton, CO (US);
Level 3 Communications, LLC, Broomfield, CO (US);
Abstract
A method for determining network topology of a provider network includes selecting a first network element, selecting a first port on the first network element, and iteratively performing connectivity validation tests using the first port, wherein each connectivity validation test is associated with a type of network element and yields a result that indicates whether a second port on a second network element of the associated type is connected to the first port. A system for discovering topology of a network, the system comprising a topology discovery engine in operable communication with a near network element and operable to identify a first port of a far network element that is connected to a second port of the near network element by remotely altering operation of the near network element to cause the second network element to respond in a manner that identifies the first port.