| Abstract | A technique for generating, distributing and maintaining a list of
operational nodes in a network using a nonbroadcast communication medium,
wherein the nodes first collectively agree on the identity of a designated
node. Once the designated node is agreed on, the other nodes periodically
send Hello messages to it and the designated nodes compiles a list of
operational nodes based in part on the Hello messages it receives, and
periodically sends a Hello message to each node on the list. The Hello
message from the designated node includes a list of addresses of active
neighbor nodes, so that every node periodically receives a list of
operational neighbor nodes. The number of messages needed to implement
this scheme is proportional to the number of nodes, rather than the square
of the number of nodes as in a conventional approach in which each node
advised every other node of its presence. Selection of the designated node
can be on the basis of some unique property of each node, such as
identification number or an encoded priority. |
