US 5,398,242 AGranted

Automatically configuring LAN numbers

AssigneeDigital Equipment Corporation

InventorRadia J. Perlman

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Methods and apparatus for automatically assigning LAN numbers to LANs in a network comprised of LANs and bridges connected to LANs. The bridges associate the LANs with LAN numbers and each LAN is related to one of the bridges. A central database links each LAN (identified by LAN number) to the identity of its related bridge and the port of that bridge which is connected to the LAN. To obtain a LAN number for a given LAN, the bridge related to the given LAN transmits a request identifying the related bridge and the port of the related bridge which is connected to the given LAN. In response, a LAN number which has not been associated with any LAN other than the given LAN is selected and included in a response which is sent back to the requesting bridge. The requesting bridge then transmits LAN number identification messages incorporating the selected LAN number to the other bridges on the given LAN.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A method of assigning LAN numbers in a network comprised of LANs and bridges connected to LANs, wherein the bridges associate said LANs with LAN numbers, comprising

relating each of said LANs with one of said bridges,
storing a database linking the LAN numbers associated with said LANs to identifiers of the bridges related to said LANs and the identities of the ports of said related bridges which are respectively connected to said LANs,
transmitting a request for a LAN number from the bridge related to a given LAN, said request identifying said related bridge and the port of said related bridge which is connected to said given LAN,
in response to said request, selecting a LAN number which has not been associated with any LAN other than said given LAN,
transmitting a response to the bridge related to said given LAN, said response including the selected LAN number,
receiving said response at said related bridge of said given LAN,
transmitting, from said related bridge to said given LAN, a LAN number identification message incorporating the selected LAN number, and
receiving, at another bridge on said given LAN, said LAN number identification message.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/147,914Filed 4 Nov 1993 · continuation
Priority: 7 Apr 1992
Granted: 14 Mar 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H04L 12/462
LAN interconnection over a backbone network, e.g. Internet, Frame Relay: lAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone
H04L 61/5038
Address allocation: for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
H04L 2101/622
Details of network addresses: layer-2 addresses, e.g. medium access control [MAC] addresses
H04L
Digital communication