Patent ID: 9237091
Filing Date: 2016-01-12
CPC Classification: H04L,H04W,Y02D

Claim Text:
1. A method of transmitting data across a first link aggregation formed by an intermediate switch and a downstream switch, said intermediate switch adopting a Media-Access Card (MAC)-address-based load sharing algorithm for distributing traffic among links to said downstream switch interfaced with one or more final destination devices, said method comprising: receiving a packet sourced from a client device having a MAC header and an IP header at an input port of a first upstream switch for transmission from said first upstream switch to said intermediate switch, said upstream switch and intermediate switch forming a second link aggregation, said MAC header having a Destination MAC address representing one of: an interface of said downstream switch in said first link aggregation or an interface of said final destination device, and a Source MAC address associated with said first upstream switch, and said IP header having a Source IP address and a Destination IP address; randomizing, at said first upstream switch, said Source MAC address of each said received packet to a random MAC address; re-writing, at said first upstream switch, said source MAC address of said received packet with said random MAC address while maintaining said Destination MAC address; sending said packet through said second link aggregation to said intermediate switch, said intermediate switch implementing said MAC-address-based load sharing algorithm for sending said packet to said downstream switch along one of said links through said first link aggregation; and sending said packet from said second down stream switch to a final destination device.