Detection of a relative location of a network device using a multicast packet processed only by hubs
August 30, 2013. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesFiber optic communication module Modular multiport data hub RF frequency multiplexed fiber optic data bus Fiber-optic star tree network Automatic feedback of network topology data Remote interconnection of local area networks Cluster link interface for a local area network Multicast packet switching method Transparent load sharing for parallel networks Local area network with an active star topology comprising ring controllers having ring monitor logic function InventorsApplicationNo. 114116 filed on 08/30/1993US Classes:709/223, COMPUTER NETWORK MANAGING370/256, Spanning tree370/401, Bridge or gateway between networks709/224, Computer network monitoring709/249MULTIPLE NETWORK INTERCONNECTINGExaminersPrimary: Bowler, Alyssa H.Assistant: Gechil, Mehmet International ClassG06F 013/00AbstractWithin a network, which includes hubs and bridges, the relative location of a first device with respect to a subset of hubs on the network is determined. In response to an instruction, the first device broadcasts a multicast packet. The multicast packet crosses bridges and is processed only by hubs. When a hub receives the multicast packet from the first device, the hub records a first port of the hub over which the second device received the multicast packet. The subset of hubs may then be interrogated to determine over which port of each of the subset of hubs the multicast packet was received. | |
