Patent ID: 7944853
Filing Date: 2011-05-17
Classification: H04L,H04W

Abstract:
1. A network, comprising: a plurality of network clusters, wherein the each of the respective network clusters includes a plurality of nodes, wherein the plurality of nodes includes a first portal node and a second portal node, wherein the each of the portal nodes comprises at least one inter-cluster link that crosses a boundary of the respective network cluster, wherein the each of the portal nodes is configured to communicate detection packets for (i) detecting an existence of an other portal node within the respective network cluster and (ii) creating a virtual root bridge associated with the respective network cluster using information contained within the communicated detection packets, the inter-cluster links of the first and second portal nodes capable of forming redundant inter-cluster loops, and wherein said each portal node is configured to communicate with other nodes within the respective network cluster associated with said each portal node to indicate that the said each portal node is a predetermined number of hops away from the virtual root bridge associated with the respective network cluster; and wherein a path-selection protocol used by the other nodes within each respective network cluster bifurcates network topology with one branch to the first portal node and a second branch to the second portal node, eliminating the redundant inter-cluster loops.