Patent ID: 9178819
Filing Date: 2015-11-03
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A learning-based method for loop avoidance in a packet switched communication network, wherein the communication network includes plurality of communication devices, the method comprising: creating at a communication device a table of unique identifiers corresponding to received data packets, wherein the unique identifiers comprises at least one of the following associated with the received data packets: Media Access Control (MAC) address, MAC and Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) address; setting a network convergence threshold time for the communication device; receiving a first data packet on a first port of the communication device; determining a first identifier associated with the received first data packet, the first identifier comprising a first MAC address of an originating communication device for the first data packet; determining whether the table of identifiers comprises a first entry for the determined first identifier of the received first data packet; determining in response to determining that the table of identifiers comprise the first entry for the first identifier, a learned port and a learned time from the first entry; determining, in response to determining that the table comprises the first entry for the first identifier, whether the first port associated with the received first data packet is same as the learned port; calculating, in response to the first port not being same as the learned port, a difference between a current system clock time of the communication device and the learned time; and updating the first entry in the table of identifiers based on the calculated difference, wherein updating the first entry comprises: