Patent ID: 7027406
Filing Date: 2006-04-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of managing connectivity between an end-device and one of a plurality of bridging-devices connected to the end-device, comprising: transmitting test messages by each of the bridging-devices; transmitting test messages by the end-device; determining, in each of the bridging-devices, with which of the other devices there is an operative connection, based on the test messages the bridging-device receives; and determining, in each of the bridging devices, whether a port leading to the end-device should be in a forwarding or blocking state responsive to the determination of the operative connections; wherein the bridging-devices are organized in a predetermined order and wherein determining whether the port should be in the forwarding or the blocking state comprises choosing the forwarding state if the connection with all the bridging-devices higher in the predetermined order are considered inoperative.