Patent ID: 7496052
Filing Date: 2009-02-24
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a network connected device, a method for VLAN ID (Virtual Local Area Network Identifier) discovery for Ethernet ports comprising: generating a series of request packets from a host device, wherein said generating said series of request packets includes: issuing said series of generated request packets to said network switch, wherein each said request packet requests a response from said network switch indicating whether a VLAN associated with said unique VLAN ID encoded within each said request packet is supported by said network switch; receiving a response packet from said network switch; determining from a response ID associated with said received response packet whether a VLAN having a corresponding VLAN ID is supported by the network switch, wherein said determining includes: storing the corresponding VLAN ID matching the associated response ID within a storage location, wherein said storage location is utilized for selecting VLAN IDs of supported VLANs for encoding within data packets being generated at the host device; and subsequent to storing within said storage location the corresponding VLAN ID matching the associated response ID, issuing data packets to only those VLANs that are supported within the network switch, wherein said issuing includes: