Patent ID: 7529851
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. In a local area network (“LAN”) system comprising at least one client, a method performed by a client to receive a MAC address for said network comprises: selecting, by said client, a MAC address available for said network; monitoring, by said client, broadcasts over said network for each MAC address advertisement frame transmitted over said network responsive to selecting said MAC address; determining whether each said advertisement frame monitored by said client is an advertisement frame for said selected MAC address; broadcasting a MAC address request frame by said client wherein said MAC address request is requesting said selected MAC address, responsive to a determination that each said MAC advertisement frame monitored is not an advertisement frame for said selected MAC address; determining whether a MAC address response frame was received by said client responsive to broadcasting said MAC address request frame; and broadcasting a MAC address advertisement frame from said client wherein said MAC address advertisement frame is for said selected address indicating said client is using said selected address if no MAC address response frame was received.