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:
Apr. 24, 2012
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2005
Marco Di Benedetto, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Ramana Mellacheruvu, San Jose, CA (US);
Norman W. Finn, Livermore, CA (US);
Umesh Mahajan, Cupertino, CA (US);
Marco Di Benedetto, Santa Clara, CA (US);
Ramana Mellacheruvu, San Jose, CA (US);
Norman W. Finn, Livermore, CA (US);
Umesh Mahajan, Cupertino, CA (US);
Cisco Technology, Inc., San Jose, CA (US);
Abstract
A multiple instance spanning tree protocol (MI-STP) creates a plurality of active topologies (i.e., loop-free paths) within a computer network. These active topologies may be established through the exchange and processing of multiple instance spanning tree bridge protocol data unit messages (MI-STP BPDUs) by the intermediate network devices within the network. The active topologies are preferably created independently of any virtual local area network (VLAN) designations defined within the network. Once the active topologies are defined, each VLAN designation is then mapped to a single active topology, although multiple VLAN designations are preferably mapped to the same active topology to provide load balancing.