Patent ID: 7869394
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for reducing a number of ports to which a data packet is forwarded comprising: a packet switch receiving a data packet on a receive port from a data device, the receive port being associated with a domain and the data packet comprising a destination address specifying that the data packet be forwarded to each of a set of two or more ports of the packet switch, each port of the set being associated with the domain; the packet switch forwarding the data packet from the receive port to each of a subset of the set of ports, each of the ports of the subset being a trusted port and the subset comprising fewer ports than the set; the packet switch preventing the data packet from egressing a port of the set that is not part of the subset; the packet switch receiving a configuration communication identifying a set of trusted devices; the packet switch broadcasting via each of the ports of the set a request data packet requesting a response from one or more of the trusted devices, the request data packet comprising a MAC address of the packet switch; the packet switch receiving a reply data packet in response to the request data packet on a reply port from a reply device, the reply data packet being marked with a reply identifier associated with the packet switch; the packet switch determining that the reply device is one of the trusted devices identified by the configuration communication; and the packet switch assigning the reply port to the subset.