Patent ID: 8509248
Filing Date: 2013-08-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of routing frames in a computer network that uses media access control (MAC)-in-MAC encapsulation using bridge identifiers, the computer network including a plurality of bridge nodes, at least one of the plurality of bridge nodes operating as an ingress bridge node through which the frames are received into the computer network, and at least one of the plurality of bridge nodes operating as an egress bridge node through which the frames are transmitted out of the computer network, the method comprising the steps of: receiving, by one of the plurality of bridge nodes from the ingress bridge node, a frame including an ingress bridge identifier and an egress bridge identifier that does not have MAC-in-MAC encapsulation for transmission to a destination node, wherein the destination node is connected to the network through the egress bridge node; replacing, by the bridge node, the ingress bridge identifier and the egress bridge identifier of the frame with a shortest path bridging header; and routing, by the bridge node, the frame including the shortest path bridging header along a path toward the egress bridge node based on the shortest path bridging header included in the frame.