Patent ID: 7602717

Claim:
A method of transmitting a sequence of cells from a first network device to a second network device, said first network device comprising a plurality of port interfaces, each of said plurality of port interfaces being coupled to a corresponding port interface on said second network device by a corresponding communication path, said method being performed in said first network device, said method comprising: maintaining a group information indicating that a first port interface and a second port interface are comprised in a cluster interface, said first port interface and said second port interface being comprised in said plurality of port interfaces; sending a first plurality of cells on a virtual circuit assigned to said first port interface, wherein said first plurality of cells are comprised in said sequence of cells; examining said group information to determine that said virtual circuit can be moved to said second port interface, wherein said moving is performed based on said examining, moving said virtual circuit from said first port interface to said second port interface based on said examining; and sending a second plurality of cells on said virtual circuit moved to said second port interface, wherein said second plurality of cells are also comprised in said sequence of cells.