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:
Dec. 22, 2009
Filed:
Feb. 17, 2004
Ronald Van Haalen, Nijmegen, NL;
Arie Johannes DE Heer, Hengelo, NL;
Ronald DE Man, Den Haag, NL;
Gert H. Manhoudt, Hilversum, NL;
Erik Tromp, Bergen, NL;
Ronald van Haalen, Nijmegen, NL;
Arie Johannes de Heer, Hengelo, NL;
Ronald de Man, Den Haag, NL;
Gert H. Manhoudt, Hilversum, NL;
Erik Tromp, Bergen, NL;
Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc., Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus for rebooting a bridge in a network containing a plurality of bridges. The method includes sending notification to other bridges that the bridge will be updated; updating the bridge; restoring a state of the network prior to the bridge being updated; and sending notification to the other bridges in the network that the update is complete. Sending notification includes sending a special bridge protocol data unit along forwarding links connected to the bridge. The method further includes the other bridges initiating a condition of not expecting additional messages from the bridge subsequent to the notification of the update and disabling a part of the bridge prior to updating. An apparatus includes a forwarding plane adapted to provide physical control of ports in the bridge and a control plane adapted for issuing and executing instructions in accordance with the method that control the physical action of the ports.