Patent ID: 9450805
Filing Date: 2016-09-20
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A centralized, software-defined networking configuration for connecting network entities, the configuration comprising: a network configuration of network entities connected vertically across layers and horizontally on the same layer, particular ones on the network entities being software defined SD entities and remaining network entities being non-SD entities and some non-SD entities being connected to at least one of the SD entities; and a centralized software-defined controller for controlling network entities, non-SD entities being uncontrollable by the controller, responsive to a demand for a communication path between two entities, the controller informs all involved entities to form the communication path, the controller being only responsible for a notification of the involved entities and the allocation of resources with the entities themselves being responsible for local implementation and configuration; wherein the centralized controller sends parallel configuration messages using out-of-band connections, such as through the Internet and the TCP protocol, to all involved entities, which can take immediate action such that there is no need for handshaking between peer entities and in turn, all the involved entities merely send an acknowledgment message to the centralized controller, whereby once all entities send such an acknowledgement a communication path is considered to be established.