Patent ID: 7529180
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A method for transferring data from a first network device comprising n ports to a second network device over a plurality of aggregated links, wherein each of the plurality of aggregated links comprises a plurality of data communication links, and wherein each of the n ports is connected to a different one of n of the data communication links, wherein n≧2, the method comprising: determining a link quality for each of m of the plurality of aggregated links, wherein m≧2, wherein each of the m aggregated links comprises a preselected plurality p of the n ports and the p data communication links connected to the p ports in the aggregated link; selecting one of the m aggregated links as an active link based on the link quality determined for each of the m aggregated links and a status of a switch that connects the first network device to the second network device via one of the m aggregated links, wherein remaining ones of the m aggregated links are inactive links; transferring the data from the first network device to the second network device over the selected one of the m aggregated links; and selecting one of the inactive links as the active link when the link quality of the selected one of the m aggregated links is less than the link quality of the selected one of the inactive links; aggregating ones of the n ports to form the m aggregated links; before aggregating the ones of the n ports to form the m aggregated links, selecting the n ports to form a team; and assigning a media access control address to the team; wherein the first network device sends the data to the team by using the media access control address.