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US 7,733,807 B2Granted
Systems and methods for accelerated learning in ring networks
AssigneeCisco Technology, Inc.
InventorMike Takefman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems, methods, devices and techniques can be used in networks including resilient packet ring networks and other types of ring topology networks to accelerate the learning of bridge/client mapping information. Once certain bridge/client mapping information is learned, and indicator can be set to cause subsequent transmissions to particular clients to be flooded to all stations on a ring network instead of being transmitted directly to the target station. Additionally, forced flooding can be triggered at regular or irregular intervals to further enhance the learning process.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- receiving at a first ring network station a frame that has been flooded onto a ring network by a second ring network station;
- learning information from the frame about at least one source associated with the frame;
- setting a flood next transmission indicator value associated with the information learned about the at least one source associated with the frame, wherein the flood next transmission indicator value indicates that a subsequent transmission to the at least one source associated with the frame should be flooded to the ring network;
- and
- subsequent to said setting the flood next transmission value,
- receiving at the first ring network station a second frame from a remote client coupled to the first ring network station through a second network,
- retrieving the flood next transmission indicator value associated with the information learned about the at least one source associated with the frame,
- causing a third frame to be flooded on the ring network, wherein the third frame comprises information from the second frame, and
- setting a second flood next transmission indicator value associated with the information learned about the at least one source associated with the frame, wherein the second flood next transmission indicator value indicates that a subsequent transmission to the at least one source associated with the frame should not be flooded to the ring network.
6 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first media access control (MAC) device operable to be coupled to a ring network, the first MAC device including control logic configured to transmit and receive frames on the ring network;
- learning logic coupled to the first MAC device and configured to read at least one source address from a first received frame and write the at least one source address and an associated flood next transmission indicator value in a table, wherein the flood next transmission indicator value indicates that a subsequent transmission to the at least one source associated with the first received frame should be flooded to the ring network;
- a memory coupled to the learning logic, wherein the table is stored in the memory;
- and
- filtering logic coupled to the memory and configured to search the table based on a destination address for a second frame received by the MAC device subsequent to the first received frame, retrieve the flood next transmission indicator value, cause a third frame to be flooded on the ring network, and change the flood next transmission indicator value to a value indicating that a subsequent transmission to the at least one source associated with the first received frame should not be flooded to the ring network, wherein
- the third frame includes information from the second frame.
3 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a first ring network station operable to be coupled to a ring network, the first ring network station including control logic configured to transmit and receive frames on the ring network;
- a means for receiving at the first ring network station a frame that has been flooded onto the ring network by a second ring network station;
- a means for learning information from the frame about at least one source associated with the frame;
- and
- a means for setting a flood next transmission indicator value associated with information learned about the at least one source associated with the frame, wherein the flood next transmission indicator value indicates that a subsequent transmission to the at least one source associated with the frame should be flooded to the ring network;
- and
- means for receiving at the first ring network station, subsequent to setting the flood next transmission indicator value, a second frame from a remote client coupled to the first ring network station through a second network,
- means for retrieving, subsequent to receiving the second frame, the flood next transmission indicator value associated with the information learned about the at least one source associated with the frame,
- means for causing a third frame to be flooded on the ring network, wherein the third frame comprises information from the second frame, and
- means for setting, subsequent to said causing the third frame to be flooded, a second flood next transmission indicator value associated with the information learned about the at least one source associated with the frame, wherein the second flood next transmission indicator value indicates that a subsequent transmission to the at least one source associated with the frame should not be flooded to the ring network.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.