Abstract: In one embodiment, a physical (PHY) layer (lower protocol stack layer) of a device may add a timestamp to a received frame, and pass the frame and timestamp up the protocol stack toward a synchronization (sync) recognition layer (upper protocol stack layer). The sync recognition layer determines whether the frame relates to synchronization, and if so, places the timestamp into a data structure along with a frame association for recovery by followup processing. Conversely, in another embodiment, the sync recognition layer may add to a frame for transmission a frame ID having an indication of whether to timestamp the frame and may pass the frame and frame ID down the protocol stack toward the PHY layer. The PHY layer determines whether the frame ID indicates that the frame is to be timestamped, and if so, places a timestamp corresponding to frame transmission into a data structure with the frame ID.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a Talker device issues a Talker declaration for a stream. The Talker declaration has a declaration type that advertises the Talker device is offering the stream, and includes a stream ID that uniquely identifies the stream, an indication of resource requirements of the stream, and an indication of a priority of data frames belonging to the stream. The Talker device receives a Listener Declaration from a Listener device of one or more Listener devices. The Listener declaration includes the same stream ID as the Talker declaration and has a declaration type that indicates at least one Listener device is ready to receive the stream and that sufficient resources to meet the resource requirements of the stream have been allocated at one or more intervening bridges that received both the Talker declaration and the Listener declaration. In response the received Listener declaration, transmission of the stream is begun.

Abstract: A method and system for multi-bridge LAN aggregation is disclosed. The method includes aggregating a plurality of LANs coupling a host to a first and a second intermediate network device. The system includes an intermediate network device. The intermediate network device includes a multi-bridge engine. The multi-bridge engine includes a tunnel engine coupled to a bridge interconnect port and a first physical port.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a physical (PHY) layer (lower protocol stack layer) of a device may add a timestamp to a received frame, and pass the frame and timestamp up the protocol stack toward a synchronization (sync) recognition layer (upper protocol stack layer). The sync recognition layer determines whether the frame relates to synchronization, and if so, places the timestamp into a data structure along with a frame association for recovery by followup processing. Conversely, in another embodiment, the sync recognition layer may add to a frame for transmission a frame ID having an indication of whether to timestamp the frame and may pass the frame and frame ID down the protocol stack toward the PHY layer. The PHY layer determines whether the frame ID indicates that the frame is to be timestamped, and if so, places a timestamp corresponding to frame transmission into a data structure with the frame ID.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for including network security information in a frame is disclosed. Network security information is included in a secure portion of overhead of a frame. The network security information is configured to facilitate network security. A network device configured to process a frame is also disclosed. The frame includes frame security information and network security information. The frame security information is configured to facilitate securing a portion of overhead of the frame, and the network security information is located in the secure portion of the overhead of the frame and is configured to facilitate network security.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an exploratory linktrace is initiated from an initiating network device with an exploratory linktrace message (ELM) having a target address. Each network device receiving the ELM may then propagate the ELM on a plurality of its ports to a plurality of downstream network devices based on the target address. In addition, each receiving network device returns an exploratory linktrace reply (ELR) for each of the plurality of ports, where each ELR is returned according to one or more mechanisms to mitigate stormed replies to the initiating network device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a transmitting node may be configured to transmit a wireless advertisement frame over a computer network, wherein the frame includes a source address of a reachable node being advertised, a destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the transmitting node, and a receiver address of a wireless access point to which the wireless advertisement frame is to be received. Also, the wireless access point may be configured to receive the wireless advertisement frame from the network, and in response, transmit a reflected wireless advertisement frame having the source address of the reachable node, the destination address to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address of the access point, and a receiver address that indicates the reflected frame is to be accepted by any appropriate receiver excluding the transmitting node.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method includes receiving at a first portal of a first node data for communication from a first network to a second network that belong to a particular one of a first set of service classes of the first network; determining at the first portal a particular one of a second set of service classes of the second network for the data; and directing the data from the first portal to a second portal of a second node residing at least in part in the second network.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a spanning tree protocol (STP) is executed to assign a first port of an intermediate network device to a Root Port Role, a second port of the intermediate network device to an Alternate Port Role, a third port of the intermediate network device to a Designated Port Role, and a fourth port of the intermediate network device to a Backup Port Role. At least one bridge protocol data unit (BPDU) message is periodically sent from the first port assigned Root Port Role, the second port assigned Alternate Port Role and the fourth port assigned Backup Port Role, irrespective of receipt of any BPDU messages from neighboring intermediate network devices. In response to a failure to receive a BPDU message from a neighboring intermediate network device on the third port assigned Designated Port Role within a threshold amount of time, one or more actions are taken.

Abstract: A method of operation for a provider edge device of a core network includes receiving a customer frame from an access network; the customer frame having a first Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) tag of a first predetermined bit length. The first VLAN tag including a service instance identifier. The service instance identifier of the first VLAN tag is then mapped into a second VLAN tag of a second predetermined bit length greater than the first predetermined bit length. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: In one embodiment, a wireless access point receives a wireless advertisement frame having a source address field that indicates a reachable node being advertised, a destination address field that indicates a destination to which the reachable node is to be advertised, a transmitter address field that indicates a transmitting node from which the wireless advertisement frame is received, and a receiver address field that indicates the access point. The wireless access point then transmits a reflected wireless advertisement frame having a source address field that indicates the reachable node, a destination address field that indicates the destination, a transmitter address field that indicates the wireless access point, and a receiver address field that indicates both a plurality of receivers the reflected wireless advertisement frame is to be accepted by, and a node that is to be excluded from accepting the reflected wireless advertisement frame.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an exploratory linktrace is initiated from an initiating network device with an exploratory linktrace message (ELM) having a target address. Each network device receiving the ELM may then propagate the ELM on a plurality of its ports to a plurality of downstream network devices based on the target address. In addition, each receiving network device returns an exploratory linktrace reply (ELR) for each of the plurality of ports, where each ELR is returned according to one or more mechanisms to mitigate stormed replies to the initiating network device.

Abstract: Various methods and systems for preventing erroneous link aggregation due to component relocation are disclosed. Such methods include a method for changing the identifier used by a network device and communicating the identifier change to a peer network device without disrupting an aggregated link. In one embodiment, a method involves detecting an identifier change and sending a Port Aggregation Protocol (PAgP) protocol data unit (PDU) that includes a new identifier and information. The information indicates the identifier change. The new identifier identifies a network device subsequent to the identifier change. Another embodiment of a method involves detecting an identifier change and, subsequent to the identifier change, sending a link aggregation protocol PDU that includes an “old device identifier” field dedicated to conveying an old identifier. The old identifier identifies a network device prior to the identifier change.

Abstract: A system and method automatically configures the interfaces of an intermediate network device. A discovery process operating at the device detects the identity or type of network entities actually coupled to the device's interfaces. Utilizing the identity or type of detected entities, a look-up is performed to obtain a configuration macro specially defined for each detected network entity. The retrieved configuration macros are executed and applied at the respective interfaces. During operation, the intermediate network device continues to monitor the identity and type of entities actually coupled to its interfaces. If a change is detected, such as an entity moving from a first to a second interface, the specially defined configuration macro for that entity floats from the first to the second interface where it is executed and applied.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a first number of multiple spanning tree instances (MSTIs) are defined within a network. A second number of network segments associated with segmentation identifier (IDs) are also configured, where the first number of MSTIs is less than the second number of segmentation IDs. Segmentation ID to MSTI mappings are maintained that map each defined segmentation ID of the second number of network segments to one of the first number of MSTIs. A segmentation mapping digest is computed of the segmentation ID to MSTI mappings. Multiple spanning tree (MST) bridge protocol data units (BPDUs) are broadcast that include the digest of the segmentation ID to MSTI mappings.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a network device in a computer network determines a plurality of attribute events that each represent a virtual local area network (VLAN) registration state of a respective VLAN of a plurality of VLANs in the computer network. The plurality of attribute events are grouped into a plurality of sets of two or more attribute events. For each set of two or more attribute events, an encoded value is computed for the set with an encoding algorithm that encodes the two or more attribute events of the set into a single encoded value. Each of the plurality of encoded values is loaded within an attribute structure of a protocol data unit (PDU) message, such that the plurality of encoded values that encompass the plurality of VLANs are included within the attribute structure of the PDU message. The PDU message is transmitted to one or more other network devices.

Abstract: A system and method runs a multiple spanning tree protocol (MSTP) in a computer network having a very large number of bridge domains. The computer network includes a plurality of intermediate network devices, each having a plurality of ports for forwarding network messages. Within each device, a plurality of bridge domains are defined, each bridge domain is identified by a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) Identifier (VID), and one or more device ports. For each port, a separate mapping of VIDs to Multiple Spanning Tree Instances (MSTIs), based on the bridge domains defined at the port, is established. Each mapping is converted to a port-based configuration digest, which is entered into Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) control messages sent from the respective port. Ports receiving STP control messages whose configuration digest values that match the configuration digests values computed for the ports are said to be in the same Multiple Spanning Tree region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for including network security information in a frame is disclosed. Network security information is included in a secure portion of overhead of a frame. The network security information is configured to facilitate network security. A network device configured to process a frame is also disclosed. The frame includes frame security information and network security information. The frame security information is configured to facilitate securing a portion of overhead of the frame, and the network security information is located in the secure portion of the overhead of the frame and is configured to facilitate network security.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a particular maintenance end-point (MEP) transmits, during a joining phase, one or more join announcement messages (JAMs) to other MEPs in a network. The one or more JAMs request addition of the particular MEP without generation of a first alarm. The particular MEP transmits, during an operational phase, continuity check messages (CCMs) to the other MEPs in the network. Alarm generation is active during the operational phase. The particular MEP transmits, during a leaving phase, one or more leave announcement messages (LAMs) to the other MEPs in the network. The one or more LAMs request removal of the particular MEP without generation of a second alarm.