Patent ID: 6212559
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A system for configuring a communication network of multiple interconnected computers, some of which perform a message routing function, the system comprising: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 aspects of a network of computers;means for generating network programming data corresponding to a new configuration specified in the network planning module;means for disseminating the network programming data over an existing communication network;means for conditioning computers in the network to switch to the new configuration on the occurrence of a triggering signal; andmeans for switching to the new configuration upon occurrence of the triggering signal;wherein the network planning module includesa task organization development module coupled to the graphical user interface and functioning to allow the authorized user to define functional interrelationships between 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 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 automatically converting the at least one logical network configuration to at least one corresponding physical network configuration, andmeans for automatically generating from the at least one physical network configuration a network operational database that completely defines the network and a plurality of management information blocks containing data to be used to program message routing computers in the network.