Patent ID: 6236659
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of controlling communication traffic in a computer network wherein said communication traffic comprises data packets including destination addresses and said network includes a plurality of multi-port communication devices and said plurality of multi-port communication devices includes at least one bridge which has a multiplicity of respective ports and in respect of each of the respective ports is operative to learn destination addresses, said plurality of multi-port communication devices including at least one half-bridge which has a multiplicity of respective ports including a backbone port and in respect of said respective port except said backbone port is operative to learn destination addresses, said method comprising:(a) determining the existence of a communication loop including ports of said at least one bridge and both said backbone port and a different one of the respective ports of the half-bridge;(b) causing said half-bridge to break said communication loop in preference to said at least one bridge; and(c) causing said half-bridge to break said communication loop by disabling reception and transmission of packets by said different one of said respective ports on the said half-bridge.