The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 04, 2019
Filed:
Mar. 30, 2015
Metaswitch Networks Limited, Enfield, Middlesex, GB;
Alan Elder, Enfield, GB;
Jonathan Harrison, Enfield, GB;
Metaswitch Networks Limited, Enfield, Middlesex, GB;
Abstract
The invention relates to managing operation of a spanning tree protocol process in a network bridge having a central controller and one or more port controllers, each for controlling one or more ports of said network bridge. The spanning tree protocol process comprises a plurality of state machines including a Port Information state machine. The Port Information state machine comprises an UPDATE state and a plurality of other states. The invention involves running a Protocol Manager on a central controller, wherein the Protocol Manager owns the UPDATE state such that updates are carried out by the Protocol Manager. The Neighbor Managers on each of the port controllers owns the plurality of other states of the Port Information state machine, such that updates are carried out by the respective Neighbor Manager on said port controller. This allows the Protocol Manager and the Neighbor Managers to operate without having to force one to pause whilst work is done on the other.