Virtual MAC address system and method
US7415535B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 2002 |
| Grant date | Aug 19, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2101/622
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for creating a virtual MAC address, the method includes receiving an Internet Protocol address that is to be associated with a virtual MAC address. The method creates a virtual MAC address by setting an OUI portion of the virtual MAC address to an OUI value and setting the non-OUI portion of the virtual MAC address to a subset of the Internet Protocol (IP) address. In one embodiment, the lower three bytes of the IP address are used. Additionally, a method of migrating a virtual MAC address includes detecting a migration event on a first system; creating a virtual MAC address on a second system; and issuing a gratuitous ARP packet containing the virtual MAC address.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.