Patent ID: 6741590
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A subtended communication network, comprising:a first node servicing a plurality of first subscribers and having a subtend module and a corresponding first identifier, the first node operable to store a second identifier corresponding to a second node coupled to the subtend module; a second node servicing a plurality of second subscribers and having a network interface module and corresponding second identifier, the second node operable to store the first identifier corresponding to the first node coupled to the network interface module; and a management module coupled to the first node and the second node, the management module operable to determine a subtending relationship between the first node and the second node, wherein the subtending relationship indicates that all network data transmitted to the network interface module of the second node passes through the first node, by retrieving the first identifier from the second node and the second identifier from the first node.