Patent ID: 7054951
Filing Date: 2006-05-30
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for initializing a node in a network, the network including a plurality of nodes connected by first and second rings formed by two or more transmission media, the method comprising: connecting the node to each of the first and second rings; setting a locally significant ring identifier for each of the first and second rings without concern for a ring identifier established by any other node in the network for either of the two rings, wherein the locally significant ring identifier for each of the first and second rings is initially significant only to the node; discovering other locally significant ring identifiers for each other node coupled to the network; storing the locally significant ring identifiers and associated node addresses for each node in the network; and determining routing decisions for one or more packets received at the node along each of the first and second rings using the other locally significant identifiers associated with a node that sent the packets.