Patent ID: 6397248
Filing Date: 2002-05-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for determining physical connectivity between end nodes and networking devices of a communication system, comprising:ascertaining a plurality of links associated with the end nodes and ports of the networking devices, the plurality of links comprised of a plurality of link types including an inferred link type for identifying a direct physical connection between at least one of the end nodes and at least one of the ports of the networking device, an End Node Media Access control Address Guess (ENMAG) link type, comprising an end node MAC address, and a Networking Device Media Access control Address Guess (NDMAG) link type comprising a network device MAC address; prioritizing the plurality of link types with the inferred link having a first level of priority, the ENMAG link having a second level of priority less than the first level of priority, and the NDMAG link having a lesser priority level than both the first level of priority and the second level of priority; and ascertaining a link having a highest priority level for each of the end nodes.