Patent ID: 8797847
Filing Date: 2014-08-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network relay device, comprising: a plurality of ports, each being configured to be connectable with one physical line; a virtual line controller configured to treat a plurality of physical lines as a virtual line, the plurality of physical lines are respectively connected with the plurality of ports; and a status check frame controller configured to send via the virtual line a status check frame for use in checking a status of a network, which the network relay device is connected with via the virtual line, wherein the network relay device forms a Ring network, the status check frame controller sends the status check frame from a port connected in a first direction of the Ring network and from a port connected in a second direction of the Ring network that is different from the first direction, and the status check frame controller changes a frame-sending port to be used to send a next status check frame, in order to avoid continuously using an identical port as both a frame-sending port to send the status check frame and a frame-receiving port to receive the status check frame from another network relay device.