Patent ID: 6857027

Claim:
A method for preventing bridge loops in a network topology, comprising: monitoring an intra-hub communication path of a network hub to detect a first data unit on said intra-hub communication path having a destination address matching a first predetermined address, wherein said first predetermined address is a media access control layer bridge multicast address; storing a source MAC address of said detected first data unit; forwarding said detected first data unit onto a plurality of external communication ports; monitoring said plurality of external communication ports to detect a second data unit having a destination address matching said first predetermined address received at a respective one of said plurality of external communication ports; comparing a source MAC address of said second detected data unit to said stored source MAC address; and in the event that said source MAC address of said second detected data unit matches said stored source MAC address, disabling operation of said respective one of said plurality of external communication ports at which said second detected unit was received.