Method of resolving duplicate mac addresses, network device management system, server, and information device
AssigneePanasonic Corporation
InventorTatsushi Hiraki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
MAC addresses of information devices on a network are collected using a broadcast frame or multicast frame of Ethernet®. If duplicate MAC addresses are detected, an Ethernet® frame, including a device identifier of information device and a MAC address to be set, is sent by broadcast transmission or multicast transmission. The information devices receiving this Ethernet® frame compare the above device identifier with their own device identifiers. If they match, the MAC address is changed to that designated. Duplicate MAC addresses are thus resolved, enabling correct Ethernet® communications.
Claims9
A method of resolving duplicate MAC addresses in a network configured with a server managing MAC addresses and a plurality of information devices,
- wherein
- the server distributes a MAC request frame that requests a MAC address of each of the plurality of information devices on the network,
- collects a MAC information frame returned from each of the plurality of information devices, the MAC information frame including a device identifier of information device;
- and
- if duplication of the MAC addresses in the collected MAC information frames is detected, the server distributes a MAC setting frame including the device identifiers of the information devices having duplicate MAC addresses and new MAC addresses to the network so as to change MAC addresses of the plurality of information devices having the duplicate MAC addresses to the new MAC addresses.
A network device management system, in which a plurality of information devices and a server managing a MAC address of each of the information devices are connected to a network, for resolving duplicate MAC addresses of the information devices on the network,
- the server comprising:
- a MAC request frame generator for requesting the MAC address of each of the plurality of information devices;
- a received frame analyzer for extracting MAC information and device identifier from a MAC information frame received from each of the information devices;
- a MAC information & device identifier retention unit for retaining a set of the MAC information and the device identifier;
- a duplication detector for searching information retained in the MAC information & device identifier retention unit, and detecting duplicate MAC information;
- and
- a MAC setting frame generator for generating a MAC setting frame based on a result detected by the duplication detector;
- and
- the information device comprising:
- a MAC information & device identifier retention unit for retaining a set of its own MAC information and device identifier;
- a received frame analyzer for extracting the MAC information and the device identifier in the MAC setting frame received from the server;
- a MAC information update unit for comparing the device identifier obtained from the received frame analyzer and the device identifier obtained from the MAC information & device identifier retention unit, and updating its own MAC information with the MAC information obtained from the MAC information analyzer if the device identifiers match;
- and
- a MAC information frame generator for obtaining the set of its own MAC information and device identifier from the MAC information & device identifier retention unit, and generating a MAC information frame.
A server connected to a plurality of information devices in a network, and manages MAC addresses of the information devices, the server comprising:
- a MAC request frame generator for requesting a MAC address of each of the information devices;
- a received frame analyzer for extracting MAC information and device identifier in a MAC information frame received from each of the information devices;
- a MAC information & device identifier retention unit for retaining a set of the MAC information and the device identifier;
- a duplication detector for searching information retained in the MAC information & device identifier retention unit, and detecting duplicate MAC information;
- and
- a MAC setting frame generator for generating a MAC setting frame based on a result detected by the duplication detector.
An information device connected to a server that manages MAC address of devices on a network, the information device comprising:
- a MAC information & device identifier retention unit for retaining a set of its own MAC information and device identifier;
- a received frame analyzer for extracting MAC information and device identifier in a MAC setting frame received from the server;
- a MAC information update unit for comparing the device identifier obtained from the received frame analyzer and the device identifier obtained from the MAC information & device identifier retention unit, and updating its own MAC information with MAC information obtained from the MAC information analyzer if the device identifiers match;
- and
- a MAC information frame generator for obtaining its own MAC information and device identifier from the MAC information & device identifier retention unit, and generating a MAC information frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.