Fast failure protection using redundant network edge ports
US6917986B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 7, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 11, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99948
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for fast protection in a fault-tolerant network includes coupling an edge switch in a network to one or more access switches via at least first and second redundant links, respectively connected to first and second ports of the edge switch. The first port is placed in an active state, while the second port is placed in a blocking state, so that communication traffic is conveyed over the first link, and each of the switches builds a respective database for use in forwarding the traffic. Responsive to a failure associated with the first link, the second port is placed in the active state and the first port is placed in the blocking state. Dummy traffic is then sent from the edge switch over the second link to the one or more access switches, so as to cause each of the one or more access switches to modify its respective database responsive to the second port being in the active state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.