Patent · US Expired

Method and system for fault-tolerant network connection switchover

US6173411A · kind A · utility

67Cited by
22References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 14, 1998
Grant dateJan 9, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 14, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04L45/22
  • WIPO fieldDigital communication
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A computer is connected to redundant network switches by primary and secondary connections, respectively. Test messages are sent across each connection to the attached switches. A break in a connection, or a faulty connection, is detected upon a failed response to one of the test messages. In response to this failure, traffic is routed across the remaining good connection. To facilitate fast protocol rerouting, a test message is sent across the now active connection bound for the switch connected to the failed connection. This message therefor traverses both switches causing each to learn the new routing. Rerouting is therefor accomplished quickly.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.