Michael Francis Gierlach

US Patent:

55112080, Apr 23, 1996

Filed:

Mar 23, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/035852

Inventors:

Ray W. Boyles - Apex NC
Michael F. Gierlach - Raleigh NC
Prabandham M. Gopal - Wayne NJ
Robert Sultan - Richterswil, CH
Gary M. Vacek - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1314
G06F 15173

US Classification:

395800

Abstract:

A computer network in which resources are dynamically located through the use of LOCATE requests includes multiple cache server nodes, network nodes which have an additional obligation to build and maintain large caches of directory entries. Cache server nodes play a key role in the LOCATE process and can prevent redundant network-wide broadcasts of LOCATE requests. Where an origin cache server node receives a request from a served node, the cache server node searches its local directories first, then forwards the request to alternate cache server nodes if necessary. If the necessary information isn't found locally or in alternate cache server nodes, the LOCATE request is then broadcast to all network nodes in the network. If the broadcast results are negative, the request is forwarded to selected gateway nodes to permit the search to continue in adjacent networks.

US Patent:

49759140, Dec 4, 1990

Filed:

Jan 24, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/301193

Inventors:

James L. Ashton - Cary NC
Robert T. Gibbs - Raleigh NC
Michael F. Gierlach - Raleigh NC
James P. Gray - Chapel Hill NC
Jeffrey G. Knauth - Raleigh NC
Guy Platel - La Gaude, FR
Stuart W. Pretzman - Raleigh NC
Lawrence E. Troan - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1120

US Classification:

371 112

Abstract:

A method of operating a communication system which includes a number of host systems each communicating via sessions with other devices over different connections and in which the sessions assigned to a failed connection are suspended for a first and second time period and non-destructively moved to an alternate connection when a unique command is issued by one of the host systems and received by a control unit involved in the failed connection.