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. 13, 2015
Filed:
Oct. 07, 2011
Andrew T. Ruble, Elkmont, AL (US);
Troy Wayne White, Toney, AL (US);
Andrew T. Ruble, Elkmont, AL (US);
Troy Wayne White, Toney, AL (US);
ADTRAN, Inc., Huntsville, AL (US);
Abstract
A system for dynamically learning virtual local area network (VLAN) tags comprises a switching element having a VLAN table and a media access control (MAC) table. For at least one VLAN, the switching element is configured to dynamically learn VLAN tags for packets carried by the VLAN in order to build the VLAN table and to then use mappings of the VLAN table, rather than mappings of the MAC table, to make forwarding decisions for all types of packets carried by the VLAN. The MAC table is not used for forwarding decisions for packets carried by the VLAN, but it can be used to help learn the VLAN tags. In particular, the switching element can use the MAC table to selectively trap packets when they are useful for learning VLAN tags and to prevent MAC learning traps for packets carrying VLAN tags previously learned by the switching element.