Method and apparatus for employing an intelligent agent to cause a packet to be sent to update a bridge's filtering database when a station is moved in a network
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining uninterrupted network operation when stations are moved, comprising the steps of:
- providing an intelligent agent, said intelligent agent causing a packet to be sent by, or on behalf of, a station when said station is first moved via a new network segment;
causing an associated bridge to learn said station'"'"'s new location; and
causing said bridge'"'"'s filtering database to be updated accordingly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Uninterrupted network operation is maintained when stations are moved, for example when a station is initially connected to a bridge port via a repeater, and the station is later moved to another repeater, such that the bridge filtering database is typically out of date until the station transmits packets. To remedy this, an intelligent agent causes a packet to be sent on behalf of the station via the new network segment, and causes the bridge to learn the new port for the station, and to update its filtering database. The intelligent agent sends this packet immediately after the station has been moved from one network segment to another, thereby minimizing the possibility that traffic directed to the station is lost.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining uninterrupted network operation when stations are moved, comprising the steps of:
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providing an intelligent agent, said intelligent agent causing a packet to be sent by, or on behalf of, a station when said station is first moved via a new network segment; causing an associated bridge to learn said station'"'"'s new location; and causing said bridge'"'"'s filtering database to be updated accordingly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for maintaining uninterrupted network operation when stations are moved, comprising the steps of:
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becoming aware of movement of a station from one repeater or one network to another; determining a source address of said moved station; causing a packet to be sent containing said source address of said station that was moved on either a new segment or to a new repeater for said station; receiving said packet at a bridge, wherein said bridge learns a new port for said station; and updating a bridge filtering database; wherein said station can then receive packets. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for maintaining uninterrupted network operation when stations are moved, comprising:
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an intelligent agent, said intelligent agent causing a packet to be sent by, or on behalf of, a station when said station is first moved via a new network segment; and means for causing an associated bridge to learn said station'"'"'s new location and update said bridge'"'"'s filtering database. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. An apparatus for maintaining uninterrupted network operation when stations are moved, comprising:
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a mechanism that becomes aware of reassignment of a station from one repeater or one network to another; a mechanism that determines a source address of said moved station, as well as a new segment for said source address; a transmitter for sending a learning packet containing said source address of said station that was moved on either said new segment or to a new repeater for said station; a receiver for receiving said learning packet at a bridge, wherein said bridge learns said new port of the station; and a mechanism that causes a bridge to update its filtering database; wherein said station can then receive packets. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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Specification