Patent ID: 7317690

Claim:
A method of constructing a topology having a plurality of nodes, the method comprising: diagnosing the presence of a loop connection of the topology by determining whether a process has been stacked for a predetermined time in a state in which a first node does not receive a parent notify signal; and disconnecting a part of the loop connection based on the diagnosis result, wherein said diagnosing includes: after the predetermined time elapses, transmitting a diagnosis signal from one port of the first node and marking said one port that transmits the diagnosis signal; marking as a received port of a receiving node that receives the diagnosis signal; transmitting the diagnosis signal from other port of the receiving node other than the receiving port; when an unmarked port remains in the first node, transmitting the diagnosis signal from said unmarked port of the first node; when the diagnosis signal transmitted from said one port of the first node is returned to other port of the first node, determining that said one port and said other port of the first node are on a loop connection; and when the diagnosis signal transmitted from said one port of the first node is returned to said one port of the first node, determining that said one port of the first node is not on a loop connection.