Patent ID: 9391886
Filing Date: 2016-07-12
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A computer implemented method of identifying in a network of interconnected devices multiple paths for traffic through the network from a source device to a final destination device, the path comprising a connected sequence of devices, the method comprising, at a monitor computer connected to the network: identifying a switching device in the path; transmitting from the monitor computer a query to the switching device, the query not constituting traffic for which the path is to be determined and including a destination identifier and requesting identification of an egress port for messages addressed to the destination identified by the destination identifier when the query is received at the switching device, wherein the destination identifier is a switching address; receiving at the monitor computer a result message from the switching device identifying the egress port and identifying a subsequent device connected to the switching device based on a network topology accessible by the monitor computer; transmitting a next query addressed to the subsequent device and receiving a next result message identifying an egress port from the subsequent device; and identifying from the network topology a further device connected to the subsequent device, wherein the path is identified to include the switching device, subsequent device and further device, and wherein the query includes a virtual local area network identifier which provides hint of a virtual local area network that is used at the switching device to switch traffic addressed to the final destination device.