Method and system for the automatic reroute of data over a local area network

• US 20070162612A1
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Paggen, Christophe
• Granted Patent: US 8,131,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/238
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272

Abstract

A method and system for rerouting data over a local area network is provided. The method comprises defining at least one port group associated with a bridging device, each port group including interfaces linked to the bridging device. A plurality of statuses for each port group is defined, the status being dependent on the individual statuses of the interfaces linked to the bridging device. At least one target port associated with each port group, each target port relating to a path for data. The method further comprises defining an action for each status of a port group and monitoring the status of the interfaces forming part of each port group. In response to determining the status of a port group, triggering the predefined action associated with the port group status at one of the port group'"'"'s target ports.

Claims

1. A method of rerouting data over a local area network, the method comprising:

defining at least one port group associated with a bridging device, each port group including interfaces linked to the bridging device;

defining a plurality of statuses for each port group, the status being dependent on the individual statuses of the interfaces linked to the bridging device and including an associated predefined action;

defining at least one target port associated with each port group, each target port relating to a path for data;

monitoring the status of the interfaces associated with each port group;

determining the status of each port group based on the monitored status of the interfaces; and

in response to determining the status of a port group, triggering the predefined action associated with the port group status at one of the port group'"'"'s target ports.

2. The method of claim 1, in which monitoring the status of the interfaces comprises monitoring when a pre-selected number of ports in a port group go down, and triggering the predefined action in response to the monitoring.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined action bridges two Local Area Network (LAN) segments.

4. The method of claim 3, in which bridging the two LAN segments comprises dynamically changing a VLAN membership of at least one associated target port to a selected VLAN membership to by-pass the bridging device.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising storing the defined port groups, interfaces associated with the port groups, the at least one target ports associated with each port group and the action for each status of a port group in a memory.

6. The method of claim 5, comprising accessing the memory to determine the status of each port group and to obtain the predefined action associated with the port group status.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of statuses for each port group is dependent on the status of the bridging device.

8. The method of claim 7, comprising monitoring the status of the bridging device, and determining the status of each port group based on the monitored status of the bridging device and interfaces.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined action is selected from at least one of rerouting data, activating a backup device, and sending an error message.

10. A machine-readable medium comprising instructions to reroute data over a local area network, the instructions when executed by a machine cause the machine to:

define at least one port group associated with a bridging device, each port group including interfaces linked to the bridging device;

define a plurality of statuses for each port group, the status being dependent on the individual statuses of the interfaces linked to the bridging device and including an associated predefined action;

define at least one target port associated with each port group, each target port relating to a path for data;

monitor the status of the interfaces associated with each port group;

determine the status of each port group based on the monitored status of the interfaces; and

in response to determining the status of a port group, trigger the predefined action associated with the port group status at one of the port group'"'"'s target ports.

11. A system for rerouting data over a local area network, the system comprising:

a port configuration module to;

define at least one port group associated with a bridging device, each port group including interfaces linked to the bridging device;

define a plurality of statuses for each port group, the status being dependent on the individual statuses of the interfaces linked to the bridging device and including an associated predefined action;

define at least one target port associated with each port group, each target port relating to a path for data;

a detection module to;

monitor the status of the interfaces associated with each port group;

a processor to;

determine the status of each port group based on the monitored status of the interfaces, and

trigger, in response to determining the status of a port group, the predefined action associated with the port group status at one of the port group'"'"'s target ports.

12. The system of claim 11, in which the detection module is configured to monitor when a pre-selected number of ports in a port group go down, and the processor is configured to trigger the predefined action in response to the pre-selected number of ports going down.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the predefined action is to bridge two Local Area Network (LAN) segments.

14. The system of claim 13, in which bridging the two LAN segments is configured to dynamically change a VLAN membership of at least one associated target port to a selected VLAN membership to by-pass the bridging device.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a memory to store the defined port groups, interfaces associated with the port groups, the at least one target ports associated with each port group and the action for each status of a port group in a memory.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor is configured to access the memory to determine the status of each port group from the monitored statuses of the interfaces and to obtain the predefined action associated with the port group status.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the statuses for each port group is further dependent on the status of the bridging device.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the detection module is configured to monitor the status of the bridging device, and the processor is configured to determine the status of each port group based on the monitored status of the bridging device and interfaces.

19. A system for rerouting data over a local area network, the system comprising:

means for;

defining at least one port group associated with a bridging device, each port group including interfaces linked to the bridging device;

defining a plurality of statuses for each port group, the status being dependent on the individual statuses of the interfaces linked to the bridging device and including an associated predefined action;

defining at least one target port associated with each port group, each target port relating to a path for data;

means for;

monitoring the status of the interfaces associated with each port group;

means for;

determining the status of each port group based on the monitored status of the interfaces, and

triggering, in response to determining the status of a port group, the predefined action associated with the port group status at one of the port group'"'"'s target ports.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the predefined action is to bridge two Local Area Network (LAN) segments.