Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 1 of 27 PageID #: 16247
`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 1 of 27 PageID #: 16247
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`EXHIBIT 6
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`EXHIBIT 6
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 2 of 27 PageID #: 16248
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`(12) United States Patent
`Bixier et al.
`
`III III IIH 11H IHI DII DII OII IHI IHI IHI II DI II
`US006212559B1
`
`(b) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,212,559 Bl
`Apr. 3, 2001
`
`(54) AUTOMATED CONFIGURATION OF
`INTERNET-LIKE COMPUTER NETWORKS
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: David C. Bixier, Hermosa Beach;
`Eufemia P. Hilger, Torrance, both of
`CA (US); Jerey A. Smith,
`Albuquerque, NM (US); Mark R.
`Wittlin, Hermosa Beach; Neil G.
`Siegel, Rancho Palos Verdes, both of
`CA (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: TRW Inc., Redondo Beach, CA (US)
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by O days.
`
`(21) Appl. No. : 09/181,371
`
`Oct. 28, 1998
`(22) Filed:
`(51) mt. Cl.7 ................................................... GO6F 15/177
`(52) U.S. Cl ........................... 709/221; 709/220; 709/223;
`709/227; 709/236; 709/242
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 709/204-205,
`709/220-224, 227-228, 238-242; 345/333-334,
`356, 969
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5/1998 Raab et al ............................ 709/228
`5,751,967 *
`6/1998 Curtis et al .......................... 709/205
`5,774,689
`5,838,907 * 11/1998 Hansen ................................. 709/220
`3/1999 Gessel et al ......................... 709/223
`5,889,954
`6/1999 Tosey et al .......................... 709/220
`5,913,921 *
`5,983,269 * 11/1999 Mattson et al ....................... 709/221
`6,003,075 * 12/1999 Ascndt et al ......................... 709/221
`1/2011X1 Li et al ................................ 709/220
`6,012,088 *
`7/20W Yuasa et al .......................... 709/223
`6,085,238 *
`
`PLANNING PHASE (30)
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0797330
`0889656
`
`9/1997 (EP) .............................. HO4L/12/24
`1/1999 (EP) .............................. HO4L/12/24
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Dynamic LAN Reconfiguration Mechanism, IBM Technical
`Disclosure Bulletin vol. 37, No. 11, Nov. 1994, p. 407-410.
`Intelligent Resource Dimensioning In ATM Networks, ISS
`Symposium, Apr. 23, 1995, vol. 2.
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner-I\1eng-Ai T. An
`Assistant Exvniner-Bharat Barot
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Michael S. Yatsko
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`
`A system and corresponding method of its operation, for
`configuring a communication network of multiple intercon-
`nected computers. The system includes a graphical user
`interface (36) that facilitates the functions of task organiza-
`tion development (38), platform equipment development
`(40), address book development (60) and logical network
`development (42) in a simulated planning phase of operation
`( 30). Using the system, an authorized user performs these
`development functions to define one or more logical com-
`munication networks, and then the system automatically
`generates specifications for a corresponding physical com-
`munication network (44), including management informa-
`tion blocks (74). In a dissemination phase of operation (32),
`the management information blocks are transmitted (50) to
`the network computers. In an execution phase of operation
`( 34), the received management information blocks are used
`to condition (52) the network computers to switch to the new
`configuration upon receipt of a timing or command signal,
`when the computers all switch to a new configuration (54)
`at the same time.
`
`16 Claims, 19 Drawing Sheets
`
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`USER
`INTERFACE
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 3 of 27 PageID #: 16249
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 4 of 27 PageID #: 16250
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 5 of 27 PageID #: 16251
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 6 of 27 PageID #: 16252
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 7 of 27 PageID #: 16253
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 8 of 27 PageID #: 16254
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 9 of 27 PageID #: 16255
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 10 of 27 PageID #: 16256
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 11 of 27 PageID #: 16257
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 12 of 27 PageID #: 16258
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 14 of 27 PageID #: 16260
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 16 of 27 PageID #: 16262
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 17 of 27 PageID #: 16263
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`U.S. Patent
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 18 of 27 PageID #: 16264
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 22 of 27 PageID #: 16268
`
`US 6,212,559 Bl
`
`AUTOMATED CONFIGURATION OF
`INTERNET-LIKE COMPUTER NETWORKS
`
`This invention was made with Government support
`under contract number DAABO7-95-D-E604 awarded by
`the Department of the Army. The Government has certain
`rights in this invention.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`This invention relates generally to computer networks
`and, more particularly, to techniques for configuring large
`interconnected networks to enable proper routing of mes-
`sages to their intended destinations. The interconnection of
`many local area networks (LANs) and larger networks,
`sometimes referred to as wide area networks (WANs), is
`now a relatively well understood concept in most business,
`educational and government organizations. Computers may
`be interconnected through telephone liies, coaxial cables,
`optical fibers, radio or microwave communication links,
`earth-orbiting satellites, or other means.
`In a large interconnected computer network, such as the
`Internet, computers may be categorized by the principal
`functions they perform. For example, there are user com-
`puters that function as network nodes or stations, sometimes
`referred to as host computers, which send and receive
`messages over a network in the form of packets of data.
`Other computers function as servers, and distribute
`requested data to network users with host computers. Com-
`puters in another category function solely to route data
`packets or messages from one part of the network to another.
`These are known by various names suggestive of the specific
`functions they perform, such as bridges, routers, switches
`and gateways. A bridge is a device that is connected to at
`least two LANs and serves to pass message frames or
`packets between the LANs, such that a source station on one
`LAN can transmit data to a destination station on another
`LAN without concern for the location of the destination. A
`bridge "listens" to messages from every LAN to which it is
`connected and relays the message onto all the other LANs to
`which it is connected. Routers perform an analogous fune-
`tion but make use of a network identifier in a message
`destination address to determine an optimum path for the
`message.
`Every network station or node has both a physical address
`and a logical address. The physical address is a unique
`numerical or other code that uniquely defines the station arid
`the local network to which it is connected. The logical
`address is usually a name or label associated with the station
`or the person using it. The logical address, which may
`include a person's name, is the address other users employ
`to direct messages to the person without having to remember
`or look up a long and complicated physical address.
`In any large organization with many interconnected
`computers, whether it be a business, educational or military
`organization, proper routing of data messages from one
`network station to another depends largely on having the
`network accurately configured. That is to say, each network
`station or host must have its hardware address properly set
`up and each router or other message muting computer must
`be properly programmed ro reflect exactly the physical
`locations of the stations in the network, the relationships
`between the physical and logical addresses, and the inter-
`connection paths between all the computers and iritercon-
`nected LANs in the network. This configuration process is
`conventionally performed manually, typically by techni-
`cians or system administrative personnel.
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`As interconnected networks become more complex, it
`also becomes more difficult to ensure that every network
`component has been correctly configured. The principal
`reason that manual network configuration is tolerated in
`large organizations is that in many cases the network con-
`figuration is relatively static, and the required changes are
`small and incremental. When a new employee joins the
`network or changes physical locations, it is a relatively
`simple matter to reconflguie the network to include his or
`lo her computer in the appropriate new location. Extensive
`corporate reorganizations are typically infrequent and there
`is usually adequate warning to make the necessary configu-
`ration changes.
`A more difficult problem is presented when frequent
`15 changes are needed in the network configuration. One
`example is a military commullieation network in which
`many of the computer stations are mobile and reconfigura-
`tion may be needed on a daily or even more frequent basis
`during military maneuvers. In this case, there is simply not
`20 enough time for manual reconfiguration of a large intercon-
`nected network of computers.
`Accordingly, there is a significant need for an automated
`process to reconfigure large computer networks, such as
`wireless military networks. Even in a commercial setting
`25 where there is usually enough time to reconfigure networks
`when changes occur, there is a need for a technique that
`would effect network reconfiguration more quickly and
`reliably than by manual means. The present invention sat-
`isfies this need and provides a number of other related
`30 advantages.
`
`The present invention resides in a system and a related
`35 method for automatically configuring or reconfiguring a
`large interconnected computer network under control of a
`user with appropriate system administration access to the
`network. Briefly, and in general terms, the method of the
`invention comprises the steps of planning a network con-
`40 figuration in simulated form through a graphical user inter-
`face; generating network programming data corresponding
`to a new configuration arrived at in the planning step;
`disseminating the network programming data over an exist-
`ing communication network; conditioning computers in the
`45 network to switch to the new configuration on the occur-
`rence of a triggering signal; and switching to the new
`configuration upon occurrence of the triggering signal.
`In one embodiment of the invention, the triggering signal
`is generated by a clock in each computer and the condition-
`50 ing step conditions the network computers to switch to the
`new configuration at a prearranged time. Alternatively, the
`triggering signal is generated by a command transmitted to
`the network computers over the network.
`More specifically, the planning step includes specifying a
`55 task organization that defines functional interrelationships
`between users of network computer stations; specifying a
`platform equipment definition for each network computer
`station; specifying at least one logical network configuration
`that defines the interrelationships between network com-
`60 purer stations; automatically converting each logical net-
`work configuration to a corresponding physical network
`configuration; and automatically generating from the physi-
`cal network configuration a network operational database
`that completely defines the network and a plurality of
`65 management information blocks containing data to be used
`to program message routing computers in the network. The
`disseminating step includes transmitting the management
`
`SIEGEL000353
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`Case 2:17-cv-00513-JRG Document 257-6 Filed 01/04/19 Page 23 of 27 PageID #: 16269
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`US 6,212,559 Bl
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`inforiiiation blocks over the network to message routing
`computers to which the blocks pertain. The conditioning
`step is then performed in each message routing computer in
`response to receipt of a management information block.
`The method may further comprise the step of generating 5
`reports pertaining to the task organization, platform
`equipment, and logical network configuration defined in the
`specifying steps, and pertaining to the physical network
`configuration.
`The planning step may further include the step of devel-
`oping an Internet address book from the data generated
`during the specifying steps.
`In accordance with another feature of the invention, the
`planning step further includes automatically detecting any
`errors made in the specifying steps; reporting any detected
`errors; and repeating the specifying steps until any detected
`and reported errors are eliminated.
`The invention may also be defined as a system for
`configuring a communication network of multiple intercon-
`nected computers, some of which perform a message routing
`function. In its broadest terms, the system comprises a
`graphical user interface module facilitating specification of
`a network by an authorized user; a network planning
`module, coupled to the graphical user interface module and
`functioning to allow the authorized user to define various 25
`aspects of a network of computers; means for generating
`network programming data corresponding to a new configu-
`ration specified in the network planning module; means for
`disseminating the network programming data over an exist-
`ing communication network; means for conditioning eom-
`puters in the network to switch to the new configuration on
`the occurrence of a triggering signal; and means for switch-
`ing to the new configuration upon occurrence of the trig-
`gering signal.
`In accordance with one alternative, the triggering signal is
`generated by a clock in each computer and the means for
`conditioning conditions the network computers to switch to
`the new configuration at a prearranged time. In an alternative
`approach, the means for switching includes means for gen-
`crating a triggering signal that is transmitted to the network 40
`computers over the network.
`More specifically, the network planning module includes
`a task organization development module coupled to the
`graphical user interface and functioning to allow the autho-
`rized user to define functional interrelationships between s
`users of network computer stations; a platform equipment
`development module coupled to the graphical user interface
`and functioning to allow the authorized user to define
`equipment parameters for each network computer station; a
`logical communication network development module so
`coupled to the graphical user interface and functioning to
`allow the authorized user to specify at least one logical
`network configuration that defines the interrelationships
`between network computer stations; means for automati-
`cally converting each logical network configuration to a 55
`corresponding physical network configuration; and means
`for automatically generating from the physical network
`configuration a network operational database that com-
`pletely defines the network and a plurality of management
`information blocks containing data to be used to program 60
`message routing computers in the network.
`Further, the means for disseminating includes means for
`transmitting the management information blocks over the
`network to iaiessage routing computers to which the blocks
`pertain, and the means for conditioning is located in each 65
`message routing computer and operates in response to
`receipt of a management information block.
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`30
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`4
`The system may further cotuprise means for generating
`reports pertaining to the task organization, platform
`equipment, and logical network configuration defined in the
`development modules, and pertaining to the means for
`automatically generating a physical network configuration.
`The network planning module may further include an
`Internet address book development module using data gen-
`crated in the task organization development module, the
`platform equipment development module and the logical
`communication network development module.
`The network planning module may further include means
`for automatically detecting any errors made in the develop-
`ment modules; means for reporting any detected errors; and
`means for repeatedly operating the development modules
`until any detected and reported errors are eliminated.
`It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the present
`invention represents a significant advance in the field of
`communication networks. In particular the invention pro-
`vides a technique that facilitates user specification of net-
`work configuration changes, and then automatically con-
`vert