Patent ID: 8054830

Claim:
A method for managing control protocol information in a network node, the method comprising: (a) receiving a message at the network node and identifying the received message as a control protocol message, wherein the control protocol message carries payload information related to a control protocol, in particular, payload information that is specific to ensuring that the network node can effectively communicate data between host devices, wherein the control protocol is one of Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) (IEEE 802.1D), Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) (IEEE 802.3ad), Connectivity Fault Management (CFM) (IEEE802.1ag), Continuity Check Message (CCM) (IEEE 802.1ag), Bidirectional Flow Detection (BFD), Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), Routing Information Protocol (RIP), and Intermediate System to Intermediate System (ISIS) protocol; (b) determining if the control protocol message contains updated control protocol information, wherein the updated control protocol information is control protocol information that causes a change in state of a control protocol that is implemented by a control protocol processor of the network node; (c) determining whether or not to provide the control protocol message to the control protocol processor in response to the outcome of (b); and (d) providing the control protocol message to the control protocol processor of the network node for control protocol processing if the control protocol message contains updated control protocol information; and (e) dropping the control protocol message if the control protocol message does not contain updated control protocol information.