Patent ID: 7792056

Claim:
A method for rapid dynamic node switchover in a network with two or more redundant and interconnected bridges, wherein a first of the bridges operates as a root bridge, each node including two ports where each port is coupled to a respective one of the bridges, said method comprising: defining a bridge identifier at a node which presents the node as configured to receive a rapid spanning tree protocol (RSTP) bridge protocol data unit (BPDU) message from the two or more redundant and interconnected bridges, the bridges being rapid spanning tree protocol enabled media access control (MAC) bridges; forwarding the bridge protocol data unit (BPDU) message from the node that defines the node as an inferior alternate path to the root bridge; dynamically sense a communication absence between the root bridge and the node; receiving a topology change message at the node from a second of the two or more redundant and interconnected bridges; and sending an agreement message from the node to the second of the two or more redundant and interconnected bridges such that the node automatically begins receiving messages from the second of the two or more redundant and interconnected bridges.