Patent ID: 7385939
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A method for use in determining the topology of a network in which a Spanning-Tree protocol is implemented, and in which the identity of the devices on the network can be determined, the method comprising the step of: obtaining address table data for the ports of core network devices on the network, the address table data including the identity of each said port and the addresses of other network devices which the port has learnt; obtaining Spanning-Tree protocol information from one or more of the core network devices; using the Spanning-Tree protocol information, processing the address table data, by removing data relating to ports which are in a blocking state; providing the processed address table data for use to build a network tree to determine a topology of the network; and building a data presentation of the network tree without the data relating to ports in the blocking state, thus determining a topology of the network wherein the step of removing comprises storing the removed data in memory so that the removed data may be utilized for determining links for ports in the blocking state.