Patent ID: 7840655

Claim:
A computer implemented method for managing an address resolution protocol table, the method comprising: receiving an address resolution protocol update, the update comprising a first internet protocol address, a first media access control address, and a first unique identifier, wherein the first unique identifier is an identifier common to an entire set of address resolution protocol table updates, wherein the first unique identifier is selected from the group consisting of a time stamp and a counter; and responsive to receiving the address resolution protocol update, determining whether the first internet protocol address is identical to a second internet protocol address contained within the address resolution protocol table; responsive to determining that the first internet protocol address is identical to the second internet protocol address, determining whether the first unique identifier is identical to a second unique identifier contained within the address resolution protocol table; updating the address resolution protocol table to include the first internet protocol address, the first media access control address, and the first unique identifier, to form an updated address resolution protocol table.