Patent ID: 6717950
Filing Date: 2004-04-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
Apparatus for determining paths for forwarding frames among end stations in a system of interconnected local area networks, comprised of:first and second groups of frame forwarding devices comprising bridges, which are used to interconnect local area networks; said first and second groups of bridges each having first means for creating tree paths for loop-free frame forwarding to an end station; said second group of bridges each having second means cooperating with said first group of bridges and all other bridges of said second group of bridges to create an enhanced path for loop-free forwarding of a frame to an end station, wherein said enhanced path is an alternate path that is shorter than any tree path to said end station; and said second group of bridges each having third means for selecting one of a tree path and an alternate path responsive to at least one of a parameter contained in a received frame and a number of hops a frame has made over a tree path between an agent bridge and the bridge of the second group of bridges receiving the frame.