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:
May. 27, 2003
Filed:
Jan. 21, 1999
Joris Johannes Maria Wils, Acton, MA (US);
James Scott Hiscock, Rockport, MA (US);
Edward A. Heiner, Jr., Londonderry, NH (US);
3Com Corporation, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Abstract
A packet based high-speed communications mesh is disclosed including a plurality of switches trunked network interfaces including links connecting the switches to form a trunk cluster. Edge devices are connected to the trunk cluster via trunked links. The trunked links provide a physical connection form each switch to each edge device. A configuration protocol is used for configuring the trunk cluster by eliminating links connected to a switch upon loss of connectivity to a switch. The protocol includes trunk configuration protocol packets transmitted by the edge devices. A trunk switch agent associated with each switch receives and transmits all trunking protocol packets for the associated switch and builds up an identifier list upon monitoring trunk configuration protocol packets. The agent monitors link status and accesses the list. The agent issues a requests to bring down all links to edge devices on a trunk switch for removal of the trunk switch upon all links to a particular edge device being lost and another trunk switch of a trunk cluster having at least one link to the particular edge device. Edge devices stop transmitting to the trunk switch upon receiving link down indications from link control hardware.