US Patent No: 6,032,194
Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000
Method and apparatus for rapidly reconfiguring computer networks
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Feb 29, 2000
Issued date -
Dec 24, 1997
filing date -
08/998,412
serial no -
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Abstract
A method that rapidly reconfigures a computer network having a plurality of devices executing the spanning tree algorithm. First, one or more devices are configured and arranged so that one port, providing connectivity to the root, is in the forwarding state and the remaining ports, providing connectivity to the root, are in the blocked state. Next, one or more of the blocked ports are designated as back-up ports. Upon detection of a failure at the active forwarding port, one of the back-up ports immediately transitions from blocked to forwarding, thereby becoming the new active port for the device. Following the transition to a new active port, dummy multicast messages are transmitted, each containing the source address of an entity directly coupled to the affected device or downstream thereof. By examining the dummy multicast messages, other devices in the network learn to use to the new forwarding port of the affected device. Rapid reconfiguration of the network is also provided upon detection of a new or repaired link or device representing a better path toward the root. The method is also compatible with networks supporting virtual local area network (VLAN) designations and allows load balancing among different VLANs.
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First Claim
Related Publications
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- 15 United States
- 10 France
- 8 Japan
- 7 China
- 5 Korea
- 2 Other
Patent Owner(s)
| Patent Owner | Address | Total Patents |
|---|---|---|
| CISCO TECHNOLOGY, INC. | SAN JOSE, CA | 9213 |
International Classification(s)
- [Classification Symbol]
- [Patents Count]
Inventor(s)
| Inventor Name | Address | # of filed Patents | Total Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutt, Dinesh G | Sunnyvale, CA | 46 | 768 |
| Gai, Silvano | Vigliano d'Asti, IT | 91 | 3064 |
| McCloghrie, Keith | Middletown, NY | 60 | 2321 |
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Patent Citation Ranking
Forward Cites
| Patent Info | (Count) | # Cites | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
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| 6,400,681 Method and system for minimizing the connection set up time in high speed packet switching networks | 201 | 1997 | |
| 6,188,694 Shared spanning tree protocol | 140 | 1997 | |
| 6,920,112 Sampling packets for network monitoring | 18 | 1998 | |
| 6,370,121 Method and system for shortcut trunking of LAN bridges | 20 | 1998 | |
| 6,515,967 Method and apparatus for detecting a fault in a multicast routing infrastructure | 69 | 1998 | |
| 6,304,575 Token ring spanning tree protocol | 82 | 1998 | |
| 6,801,506 Method and apparatus for providing fast spanning tree re-starts | 48 | 1999 | |
| 6,389,475 Content - based filtering of multicast information | 28 | 1999 | |
| 6,678,241 Fast convergence with topology switching | 68 | 1999 | |
| 7,162,537 Method and system for externally managing router configuration data in conjunction with a centralized database | 3 | 2000 | |
| 6,898,189 Restartable spanning tree for high availability network systems | 35 | 2000 | |
| 6,987,740 STP root guard | 11 | 2000 | |
| 7,061,858 High availability architecture for network devices | 44 | 2000 | |
| 7,076,594 Apparatus and method for preventing one way connectivity loops in a computer network | 14 | 2000 | |
| 6,813,250 Shared spanning tree protocol | 38 | 2000 | |
| 6,934,262 Method and apparatus for restricting the assignment of VLANs | 15 | 2000 | |
| 7,085,224 Method and apparatus for fast failure detection in switched LAN networks | 15 | 2001 | |
| 7,310,306 Method and apparatus for ingress port filtering for packet switching systems | 8 | 2001 | |
| 7,013,347 Distance vector extension to the address resolution protocol | 2 | 2001 | |
| 7,061,875 Spanning tree loop guard | 34 | 2001 | |
| 8,005,978 Method to optimize the load balancing of parallel coprocessors | 0 | 2002 | |
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| 6,940,821 Method and apparatus for detecting a fault in a multicast routing infrastructure | 12 | 2002 | |
| 7,792,991 Method and apparatus for advertising a link cost in a data communications network | 4 | 2002 | |
| 7,707,307 Method and apparatus for constructing a backup route in a data communications network | 1 | 2003 | |
| 7,869,350 Method and apparatus for determining a data communication network repair strategy | 0 | 2003 | |
| 8,040,886 Programmable packet classification system using an array of uniform content-addressable memories | 0 | 2003 | |
| 7,480,258 Cross stack rapid transition protocol | 12 | 2003 | |
| 7,864,708 Method and apparatus for forwarding a tunneled packet in a data communications network | 0 | 2003 | |
| 7,606,177 Value-added features for the spanning tree protocol | 2 | 2003 | |
| 7,751,416 Virtual network device | 9 | 2003 | |
| 7,580,360 Method and apparatus for generating routing information in a data communications network | 2 | 2003 | |
| 7,554,921 Method and apparatus for generating routing information in a data communication network | 3 | 2003 | |
| 7,428,213 Method and apparatus for determining network routing information based on shared risk link group information | 3 | 2003 | |
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| 7,428,237 Fast convergence with topology switching | 12 | 2004 | |
| 7,710,882 Method and apparatus for computing routing information for a data communications network | 1 | 2004 | |
| 8,208,370 Method and system for fast link failover | 2 | 2004 | |
| 7,839,843 Distributed forwarding in virtual network devices | 0 | 2004 | |
| 7,889,733 Intelligent adjunct network device | 0 | 2004 | |
| 7,983,173 System and method for detecting link failures | 1 | 2004 | |
| 7,706,364 Virtual network device clusters | 0 | 2004 | |
| 7,848,240 Method and apparatus for forwarding data in a data communications network | 0 | 2004 | |
| 7,710,957 System and method for implementing multiple spanning trees per network | 1 | 2004 | |
| 7,808,983 Network device architecture for centralized packet processing | 1 | 2004 | |
| 7,822,025 Network device architecture for centralized packet processing | 1 | 2004 | |
| 7,630,298 Method and apparatus for forwarding data in a data communications network | 1 | 2004 | |
| 7,570,583 Extending SONET/SDH automatic protection switching | 2 | 2005 | |
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| 7,852,747 Method and apparatus for constructing a repair path around a non-available component in a data communications network | 0 | 2005 | |
| 7,848,264 Method and apparatus for rapidly reconfiguring computer networks | 4 | 2005 | |
| 7,599,284 Restartable spanning tree for high availability network systems | 6 | 2005 | |
| 7,848,224 Method and apparatus for constructing a repair path for multicast data | 1 | 2005 | |
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| 7,835,312 Method and apparatus for updating label-switched paths | 0 | 2005 | |
| 7,693,043 Method and apparatus for advertising repair capability | 0 | 2005 | |
| 7,646,733 System and method for generating symmetrical spanning trees | 1 | 2005 | |
| 7,570,579 Method and apparatus for fast failure detection in switched LAN networks | 2 | 2005 | |
| 7,545,757 STP root guard | 0 | 2005 | |
| 7,653,011 Spanning tree protocol for wireless networks | 4 | 2006 | |
| 7,606,178 Multiple wireless spanning tree protocol for use in a wireless mesh network | 4 | 2006 | |
| 7,885,179 Method and apparatus for constructing a repair path around a non-available component in a data communications network | 1 | 2006 | |
| 8,144,577 Technique for efficiently managing bandwidth registration for multiple spanning tree options | 0 | 2006 | |
| 7,515,535 Technique for efficiently managing bandwidth for multipoint-to-multipoint services in a provider network | 7 | 2006 | |
| 7,412,557 Apparatus and method for preventing loops in a computer network | 8 | 2006 | |
| 7,460,492 Spanning tree loop guard | 8 | 2006 | |
| 7,639,699 Technique for sharing a physical port among a plurality of virtual bridges on a switch in a computer network | 0 | 2006 | |
| 8,111,616 Constructing a repair path in the event of failure of an inter-routing domain system link | 0 | 2006 | |
| 7,957,306 Providing reachability information in a routing domain of an external destination address in a data communications network | 0 | 2006 | |
| 7,697,416 Constructing a repair path in the event of non-availability of a routing domain | 2 | 2006 | |
| 7,701,845 Forwarding data in a data communications network | 1 | 2006 | |
| 7,995,499 Minimizing spanning-tree protocol event processing and flooding in distribution networks | 0 | 2006 | |
| 7,738,383 Traceroute using address request messages | 0 | 2006 | |
| 7,706,278 Triggering flow analysis at intermediary devices | 1 | 2007 | |
| 7,583,589 Computing repair path information | 0 | 2007 | |
| 7,940,776 Fast re-routing in distance vector routing protocol networks | 0 | 2007 | |
| 7,830,880 Selective build fabric (BF) and reconfigure fabric (RCF) flooding | 0 | 2007 | |
| 8,238,232 Constructing a transition route in a data communication network | 0 | 2008 | |
| 8,059,668 Efficient end-to-end proposal/agreement messaging for spanning tree convergence in a computer network | 0 | 2008 | |
| 7,940,668 Method and apparatus to enable an IPe domain through EIGRP | 0 | 2008 | |
| 8,300,523 Multi-chasis ethernet link aggregation | 0 | 2008 | |
| 8,059,652 Method and apparatus for detecting support for a protocol defining supplemental headers | 0 | 2008 | |
| 7,978,612 Two-hop relay for reducing distance vector routing information | 1 | 2008 | |
| 8,175,009 System and method for generating symmetrical spanning trees | 0 | 2009 | |
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| 6,195,349 Scalable logical LAN | 11 | 1998 | |
| 6,195,351 Logical switch set | 40 | 1998 | |
| 6,262,977 High availability spanning tree with rapid reconfiguration | 47 | 1998 | |
| 6,272,113 Network controller system that uses multicast heartbeat packets | 36 | 1998 | |
| 6,330,229 Spanning tree with rapid forwarding database updates | 72 | 1998 | |
| 6,865,160 Broadcast tree determination in load balancing switch protocols | 36 | 1999 | |
| 6,611,502 Spanning tree with rapid propagation of topology changes | 24 | 1999 | |
| 6,535,490 High availability spanning tree with rapid reconfiguration with alternate port selection | 38 | 1999 | |
| 6,771,610 Spanning tree with protocol for bypassing port state transition timers | 12 | 1999 | |
| 6,857,027 Intelligent network topology and configuration verification using a method of loop detection | 19 | 2000 | |
| 7,430,164 Path recovery on failure in load balancing switch protocols | 19 | 2002 | |
| 7,933,983 Method and system for performing load balancing across control planes in a data center | 1 | 2002 | |
| 6,697,339 High availability spanning tree with rapid reconfiguration with alternate port selection | 42 | 2003 | |
| 6,680,917 Spanning tree with rapid propagation of topology changes | 6 | 2003 | |
| 6,882,630 Spanning tree with rapid propagation of topology changes | 12 | 2003 | |
| 6,934,263 Spanning tree with protocol for bypassing port state transition timers | 8 | 2004 | |
| 7,876,689 Method and apparatus for load balancing network interface adapters based on network information | 0 | 2005 | |
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| 7,054,264 Interconnect and gateway protection in bidirectional ring networks | 8 | 2001 | |
| 7,145,878 Avoiding overlapping segments in transparent LAN services on ring-based networks | 5 | 2002 | |
| 7,127,523 Spanning tree protocol traffic in a transparent LAN | 13 | 2002 | |
| 7,154,899 Protecting the filtering database in virtual bridges | 3 | 2002 | |
| 7,339,929 Virtual private LAN service using a multicast protocol | 35 | 2002 | |
| 7,283,465 Hierarchical virtual private LAN service protection scheme | 23 | 2003 | |
| 7,974,223 Virtual private LAN service over ring networks | 1 | 2004 | |
| 7,983,150 VPLS failure protection in ring networks | 1 | 2006 | |
| 7,808,931 High capacity ring communication network | 2 | 2006 | |
| 7,593,400 MAC address learning in a distributed bridge | 2 | 2006 | |
| 7,660,303 Point-to-multipoint functionality in a bridged network | 3 | 2006 | |
| 7,773,508 Protecting the filtering database in virtual bridges | 0 | 2006 | |
| 8,009,684 High capacity ring communication network | 0 | 2010 | |
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| 8,122,134 Reducing loop effects in a wireless local area network repeater | 1 | 2003 | |
| 8,060,009 Wireless local area network repeater with automatic gain control for extending network coverage | 2 | 2003 | |
| 8,111,645 Wireless local area network repeater with detection | 2 | 2003 | |
| 7,990,904 Wireless network repeater | 3 | 2003 | |
| 8,027,642 Transmission canceller for wireless local area network | 1 | 2004 | |
| 8,078,100 Physical layer repeater with discrete time filter for all-digital detection and delay generation | 1 | 2006 | |
| 8,059,727 Physical layer repeater configuration for increasing MIMO performance | 1 | 2006 | |
| 8,095,067 Frequency translating repeater with low cost high performance local oscillator architecture | 1 | 2006 | |
| 8,023,885 Non-frequency translating repeater with downlink detection for uplink and downlink synchronization | 1 | 2006 | |
| 8,089,913 Physical layer repeater with selective use of higher layer functions based on network operating conditions | 2 | 2007 | |
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| 6,658,012 Statistics for VLAN bridging devices | 2 | 2000 | |
| 6,704,812 Transparent and dynamic management of redundant physical paths to peripheral devices | 47 | 2000 | |
| 6,987,735 System and method for enhancing the availability of routing systems through equal cost multipath | 11 | 2001 | |
| 7,134,040 Method, system, and program for selecting a path to a device to use when sending data requests to the device | 29 | 2002 | |
| 7,486,691 Method, logic arrangement and program for assigning a primary trunk | 0 | 2004 | |
| 7,428,658 Checking storage reconfiguration | 3 | 2004 | |
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| 7,957,324 Utilizing bandwidth in ring network using path cost and protection techniques | 0 | 2008 | |
| 7,929,428 Switch for dynamically rerouting traffic due to detection of faulty link | 1 | 2008 | |
| 7,916,723 Automatic network topology identification by nodes in the network | 3 | 2009 | |
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| 7,916,668 Spanning tree protocol with burst avoidance | 0 | 2004 | |
| 7,417,953 Port re-enabling by monitoring link status | 9 | 2004 | |
| 8,369,246 Method and apparatus for sending and receiving multicast packets on a multicast tree | 0 | 2008 | |
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| 6,914,905 Method and system for VLAN aggregation | 37 | 2000 | |
| 6,912,592 Method and system of aggregate multiple VLANs in a metropolitan area network | 31 | 2001 | |
| 7,792,058 Method and system for VLAN aggregation | 1 | 2005 | |
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| 6,628,661 Spanning tree recovery in computer networks | 23 | 1999 | |
| 7,020,709 System and method for fault tolerant stream splitting | 3 | 2000 | |
| 6,888,792 Technique to provide automatic failover for channel-based communications | 17 | 2000 | |
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| 6,631,420 Reducing convergence time by a protocol independent multicast (PIM) router | 19 | 1999 | |
| 6,879,594 System and method for loop avoidance in multi-protocol label switching | 91 | 2000 | |
| 6,798,739 Mechanism for splicing trees | 13 | 2000 | |
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| 7,558,195 System and method for providing network route redundancy across layer 2 devices | 8 | 2007 | |
| 8,014,301 System and method for providing network route redundancy across layer 2 devices | 1 | 2009 | |
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| 6,327,252 Automatic link establishment between distributed servers through an NBMA network | 42 | 1998 | |
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| 7,508,774 Extensions to the spanning tree protocol | 0 | 2004 | |
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| 6,891,808 Spanning tree bridge and route change method using the same | 14 | 2001 | |
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| 6,519,231 Method and apparatus providing a spanning tree protocol for a data communications network having a multi-link trunk | 39 | 1999 | |
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| 6,724,734 Creating a spanning tree of a network including clusters | 10 | 1999 | |
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| 6,871,226 Method of searching servers in a distributed network | 5 | 2000 | |
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| 7,836,210 Information distribution system, terminal apparatus used in such system, recording medium on which program is recorded, and loop connection avoidance method | 0 | 2008 | |
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| 7,907,515 Network interface switching in multi-interface apparatus | 0 | 2007 | |
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| 6,785,226 System and method for data routing over a network | 22 | 1999 | |
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| 7,233,991 Self-healing tree network | 15 | 2003 | |
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| 7,835,265 High availability Ethernet backplane architecture | 2 | 2002 | |
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| 7,336,605 Bandwidth allocation for link aggregation | 18 | 2003 | |
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| 7,010,595 Apparatus for multi-level loopback test in a community network system and method therefor | 3 | 2001 | |
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| 7,680,031 Method and apparatus for load balancing and protecting data traffic in an optical ring | 2 | 2002 | |
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| 7,928,394 Testing device containing a gas sensor | 1 | 2007 | |
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| 6,717,922 Network configuration protocol and method for rapid traffic recovery and loop avoidance in ring topologies | 32 | 2002 | |
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| 8,064,331 Transmitting apparatus and method for maintaining learned information | 0 | 2006 | |
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| 7,920,555 Composite trunking | 0 | 2001 | |
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| 7,315,516 Method for generating casting path among participants for multicasting | 2 | 2002 | |
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| 6,392,990 Method for implementing interface redundancy in a computer network | 45 | 1999 | |
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| 8,081,640 Network system, network management server, and access filter reconfiguration method | 1 | 2008 | |
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| 6,651,106 Flooding communication using an access table to establish transmission times | 9 | 2000 | |
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| 8,045,487 Method for implementing multicast in rapid spanning tree protocol ring network | 0 | 2006 | |
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| 7,680,904 Diagnostic method and apparatus for detecting and locating computer network discontinuities | 0 | 2004 | |
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| 7,027,406 Distributed port-blocking method | 22 | 2000 | |
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| 8,276,198 Method and apparatus for local area networks | 0 | 2011 | |
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| 7,027,453 Spanning tree alternate routing bridge protocol | 9 | 2001 | |
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| 8,014,410 Automatic packet protection forwarding to an MPLS network by a dual-homed ethernet bridge | 0 | 2007 | |
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| 6,940,825 Spanning tree recovery in machine networks | 3 | 2003 | |
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| 7,315,903 Self-configuring server and server network | 22 | 2002 | |
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| 7,706,931 Control system | 0 | 2008 | |
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| 7,307,988 Address search apparatus and method in ethernet switch | 1 | 2000 | |
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| 6,108,695 Method and apparatus for providing analog output and managing channels on a multiple channel digital media server | 21 | 1997 | |
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| 7,512,650 Physical layer recovery in a streaming data delivery system | 6 | 2002 | |
Maintenance Fees
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee | due date |
|---|
| Fee | Large entity fee | small entity fee | micro entity fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unavoidable | $700.00 | $350.00 | $175.00 |
| Surcharge after expiration - Late payment is unintentional | $1,640.00 | $820.00 | $410.00 |