Patent ID: 6538988
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A system for providing keep-alive detection between end nodes of a virtual circuit in a data network, the system comprising:a virtual circuit including a first end node, a second end node and at least one intermediate router; said first end node being coupled to a first router of said at least one intermediate router; said second end node being coupled to a second router of said at least one intermediate router, said second end node further being coupled to said first end node via said virtual circuit; said virtual circuit being represented by an associated data link connection identifier (DLCI) other than that used by a local management interface, and configured to allow transmission of data frames between said first and second end nodes; said first end node including a first keep-alive mechanism configured to send at least one keep-alive REQUEST message to said second end node via said virtual circuit; and said second end node including a second keep-alive mechanism configured to respond to reception of said at least one keep-alive REQUEST message by sending at least one keep-alive REPLY message to said first end node via said virtual circuit.