Patent ID: 6717922
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a network topology comprising a plurality of rings, each ring having a plurality of bridges each having a plurality of ports, two of which ports belonging to the respective ring, wherein one of the plurality of bridges in each ring serves as a master bridge for the ring, the master bridge having a first port belonging to the first ring which is convertible between a blocking state and a non-blocking and a second port being maintained in a non-blocking state, and wherein all ports for other bridges belonging to each ring other than the master bridge are maintained in non-blocking states, a method for facilitating rapid traffic recovery while avoiding loops, the method comprising:regularly transmitting first control packets from a first master bridge onto a first ring, the first control packets each including a first ring identifier identifying the first ring; regularly transmitting second control packets from a second master bridge onto a second ring, the second control packets each including a second ring identifier identifying the second ring; the one or more other bridges in the first ring forwarding the first control packets and, when available to the first ring, any second control packets; and if any first or second control packet is not received by the convertible blocking port for the first or second master bridge, respectively, within a set delay time from transmission of such first or second control packet, then convening the convertible port for the first or second master bridge, respectively, from a blocking state to a non-blocking state.