Patent ID: 7072952

Claim:
A spanning tree bypassing method comprising the steps of: (a) in a first node, sending a first frame, whose destination address is a first address and whose source address is a second address, out on a designated port as well as on a root port when the first frame is received, provided that learning is done on the root port so as to send any frame destined for the first address out on the root port; and (b) in a second node having received the first frame on a blocking port, sending a second frame, whose destination address is the second address, out on the blocking port when the second frame is received, (i) performing temporary learning so as to send any frame destined for the second address out on the blocking port, when the first frame is received on the blocking port; and (ii) sending the second frame, whose destination address is the second address, out on the blocking port by switching the temporary learning to normal learning when the second frame is received.