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:
Oct. 28, 2014
Filed:
Jun. 28, 2011
James A. Kahkoska, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
James A. Kahkoska, Colorado Springs, CO (US);
Fluke Corporation, Everett, WA (US);
Abstract
A network test tool can determine if it is linked to directly to an indicated managed device or an intermediate unmanaged device. Discovery protocols and spanning tree are designed to map network topology and eliminate closed loops in networks. As such these management packets are among the first emerging from managed switches immediately upon acquiring a new link. By analyzing the first few packets, with timeouts, the tool can determine with a high degree of accuracy if it is really connected to the advertised nearest switch. If an unmanaged switch exists between the managed switch and tool, the managed switch will not detect the link event therefore not immediately send discovery packets. Once the tool determines it is not linked to the managed switch, further packet analysis can indicated if the intermediate device is a Layer 2 switch or Hub.