Patent ID: 8599685

Claim:
A layer 2 device associated with an open systems interconnection (OSI) reference model, the layer 2 device being positioned in a path substantially between layer 3 devices, the layer 2 device comprising: a first interface, the first interface being arranged to intercept a first message, the first message being associated with a on-path signaling protocol for at least one selected from a group including resource reservation and admission control at a layer above layer 2; a processing arrangement being arranged to process the first message, wherein the processing arrangement is further arranged to determine when a recent topology change is detected and to generate an address resolution protocol (ARP) message; and a second interface, the second interface being arranged to send the ARP message and the first message on the path, wherein the ARP message is sent when the recent topology change is detected, the ARP message being sent before the first message is sent, and wherein the ARP message is not sent when the recent topology change is not detected.