Distance vector extension to the address resolution protocol

Patent 7013347 Issued on March 14, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date:

October 16, 2021. 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.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

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Inventor

Moen, Daniel

Application

No. 09981181 filed on 10/16/2001

US Classes:

709/238, COMPUTER-TO-COMPUTER DATA ROUTING709/239, Alternate path routing709/240, Prioritized data routing709/241, Least weight routing709/242, Routing data updating709/243, Decentralized controlling709/244, Centralized controlling370/395.54, Address resolution (e.g., ARP, or NHRP)370/395.31, Including routing table370/401, Bridge or gateway between networks370/238, Least cost or minimum delay routing370/469, Processing multiple layer protocols370/470, Frame length370/471, Message having an address header370/218, Packet switching system or element370/395.53, Emulated LAN (LANE/ELAN/VLAN, e.g., Ethernet or token ring legacy LAN over a single ATM network/LAN)709/249, MULTIPLE NETWORK INTERCONNECTING370/463, Details of circuit or interface for connecting user to the network370/230, Control of data admission to the network370/389, Switching a message which includes an address header370/392, Processing of address header for routing, per se370/256, Spanning tree370/235, Flow control of data transmission through a network370/252, Determination of communication parameters379/22.01By loopback

Examiners

Primary: Najjar, Saleh
Assistant: Ismail, Shawki

International Class

G06F 15/173

Abstract

A method and device thereof for managing messages received at a bridging device. A bridging device receives a first message comprising a first contact information and a first distance vector representing a first number of hops the first message has traversed. The first distance vector is compared to a stored second distance vector corresponding to a stored second contact information for the remote electronic device, wherein the second contact information and second distance vector are provided by a second message. The second distance vector represents a second number of hops the second message has traversed. Provided the first number of hops is greater than the second number of hops, the first message is discarded. Alternatively, provided the first number of hops is not greater than the second number of hops, the second contact information and second distance vector are discarded and the first contact information and first distance vector are stored on a computer- readable memory of the bridging device. The present invention provides a method and device thereof for filtering out repeat traffic at a bridging device without requiring additional messaging.