Patent ID: 6331985
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for processing data packets in a ring switch of a ring network, the method comprising:receiving a data packet at a ring-in port of the ring switch;reading a selected source identifier of the ring packet;when the source identifier is not in a table for a port of the ring switch, storing the source identifier in the table with an indication that the identifier is for a network device associated with a ring-out port of the ring switch;reading a selected destination identifier from the data packet;when the destination identifier for the data packet is in a table for the ring switch, switching the data packet to the port of the ring switch that is associated with the destination identifier;when the destination identifier for the data packet is not in a table for the ring switch or the data packet is a broadcast data packet, broadcasting the data packet; andwhen the destination identifier for the data packet is a multicast identifier, broadcasting the data packet to all appropriate ports of the ring switch.