Patent ID: 7391771
Filing Date: 2008-06-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of sending information through a physical topology, comprising: providing the physical topology with a first node and a second node, the first node having a first access port, a second access port and a first uplink connected to a router, the first access port having a first port number and the second access port having a second port number; the second node having a first access port and a first uplink, the first uplink of the second node being connected to the first access port of the first node, the first access port of the second node having a third port number; providing a third node having a first access port and a first uplink, the first uplink of the third node being connected to the second access port of the first node; sending a first packet via the first access port to the second node, the first packet having a tag having a first nibble field and a second nibble field; the second node adding the third a port number of the first access port of the second node to the first nibble field of the first packet; the second node sending the first packet via the first uplink of the second node to the first access port of the first node; the first node receiving the first packet via the first access port of the first node; the first node adding the first port number of the first access port of the first node to the first or second nibble field of the tag adjacent to the third port number; and the first node sending the first packet via the first uplink of the first node to a first router.