Diagnosing and reporting a network break

Abstract

A system, method, and computer readable medium allow a cable break or other network link failure to be detected and reported. The method may include steps of periodically transmitting a packet from a root node in the network to a next node in the network; at each successive non-root node in the loop, manipulating the packet and forwarding the manipulated packet to a next successive node in the loop; when the packet is received back at the root node within a predetermined time period, reporting that the loop is intact; and when the packet is not received back at the root node within the predetermine time period, reporting that a network break has occurred. The network may conform to the STP or RSTP protocols, and may contain one or more rings possibly including dual rings. The PLC may operate as the root node, and the reporting may be done at an application level in the PLC.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.