QUEUING METHOD TO COORDINATE CONNECTION ATTEMPTS TO A SERVER

Abstract

A client/server network includes a plurality of IP devices in communication with a central server. The plurality of IP devices communicate with one another to queue themselves onto a linked list. The plurality of IP devices then connect to the central server in the order determined by the linked list. Prior to attempting to connect to the central server, each of the plurality of IP devices verifies that a number of IP devices currently attempting to connect to the central server is not equal to a maximum number.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood with reference to the following Figures in which like numerals denote like parts and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a prior art IP phone subnet;

FIG. 2 is a message flow diagram showing an IP phone acquiring a TCP link to a PBX;

FIG. 3 is a message flow diagram showing an IP phone making a secure connection with a PBX;

FIG. 4 is a message flow diagram showing an IP phone creating a control link with a PBX;

FIG. 5 is a state diagram showing operation of an IP phone according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of three IP phones belonging to a doubly linked list;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of messages between phones to provide a doubly linked list;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the flow of messages between phones in a doubly linked list when attempting to connect to a PBX;

FIG. 9 is a timeline of PBX connection attempts by phones from a doubly linked list;

FIG. 10 is a state diagram showing operation of an IP phone receiving more than one connection request; and

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are schematic diagrams depicting a merging operation between two doubly linked lists

Claims

1. A client/server network comprising: a plurality of IP devices in communication with a central server, said plurality of IP devices being in communication with one another to queue themselves into a list for connecting to said central server;wherein each of said plurality of IP devices includes verification means to verify that a number of IP devices attempting to connect to said central server does not exceed a maximum number prior to attempting connection to said central server.

2. A client/server network as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of IP devices includes means for receiving a unicast message from a previous one of said plurality of IP devices in said list, said unicast message including said number of IP devices attempting to connect to said central server.

3. A client/server network as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of IP devices includes means for decrementing a count number, said count number being received from said previous one of said plurality of IP devices in said list and a decremented count number being passed to a next one of said plurality of IP devices in said list.

4. A client/server network as claimed in claim 2, wherein said unicast message is a start message, said start message for prompting each of said plurality of IP devices to attempt to connect to said central server, server connection attempts occurring in an order determined by said list.

5. A client/server network as claimed in claim 1, wherein said IP devices are IP phones.

6. A method for a plurality of IP devices to connect to a central server, said method comprising: queuing said plurality of IP devices into a list;attempting connection of respective ones of said plurality of IP devices to said central server in an order determined by said linked list;wherein each of said plurality of IP devices verifies that a number of IP devices attempting connection to said central server is less than a maximum number prior to attempting connection to said central server.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein each of said plurality of IP devices in said list maintains an IP address of a previous one of said plurality of IP devices in said list and a next one of said plurality of IP devices in said list.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of IP devices learns said number of IP devices attempting to connect to said central server from said previous one of said plurality of IP devices in said list.

9. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of IP devices increments said number of IP devices attempting to connect to said central server and passes said new number to said next one of said plurality of IP devices in said list.

10. A client/server network as claimed in claim 6, wherein said plurality of IP devices attempt to connect to said central server in an order determined by said list.

11. A client/server network as claimed in claim 6, wherein said IP devices are IP phones.