Method and apparatus for controlling a set of ethernet nodes interconnected to form one or more closed loops
US8737198B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 2008 |
| Grant date | May 27, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 2, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/437
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Ethernet nodes, interconnected logically or physically to construct a closed loop, may be controlled using a control protocol that governs placement of blocks on the ring. The control protocol allows one of the nodes to be designated as a root node in normal operation. The root node will block data traffic on one of its ports on the ring to prevent a forwarding loop from being created on the ring. Each node on the ring performs link level connectivity detection and, upon detection of a failure, will send out a Failure Indication Message (FIM). When a node receives a FIM, it will flush its forwarding database associated with the ring and, if it is the root node, will remove the data block on the port. When the failure recovers, the nodes adjacent the failure will transmit a recovery indication message to allow the ring to revert to its normal state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.