Patent ID: 7532588

Claim:
A network system for setting a transfer path according to a spanning tree on a network connecting a plurality of nodes, wherein two different networks are connected by a self-configuring partial network comprising at least four nodes accommodating no terminal, and each node belonging to said self-configuring partial network configures and manages a spanning tree for at least one other network adjacent to the self-configuring partial network, according to a spanning tree protocol, wherein each said node belonging to said self-configuring partial network comprises: a plurality of transfer units which determines an output destination port in said self-configuring partial network, based on a destination MAC address of an input frame; and a plurality of tree managers which configures a spanning tree for said self-configuring partial network and said adjacent network, according to the spanning tree protocol and transfers a frame, wherein each tree manager comprises: a tree controller which determines a state of a port according to the spanning tree protocol; a BPDU transmitter/receiver which transmits and receives one or more control signals of the spanning tree protocol; and a port blocking unit which closes or opens a port.