Abstract: A method and an Ethernet local area network are described herein in which the Ethernet local area network is configured to enable a talking device (e.g., microphone) to send a media stream to one or more listening devices (e.g., speakers). In one embodiment, the method for configuring the Ethernet local area network includes the following steps: (1) providing a user of a talking device with a “relevant” catalog which contains information including positional information about one or more listening devices; (2) allowing the user to interface with the “relevant” catalog so they can select at least one of the listening device(s); (3) enabling the talking device to send a subscribe-request message to the selected listening device(s) requesting that the selected listening device(s) subscribe to the talking device; (4) and sending a media stream from the talking device to the selected listening device(s).

Abstract: A method and an Ethernet local area network are described herein in which the Ethernet local area network is configured to enable a talking device (e.g., microphone) to send a media stream to one or more listening devices (e.g., speakers). In one embodiment, the method for configuring the Ethernet local area network includes the following steps: (1) providing a user of a talking device with a “relevant” catalog which contains information including positional information about one or more listening devices; (2) allowing the user to interface with the “relevant” catalog so they can select at least one of the listening device(s); (3) enabling the talking device to send a subscribe-request message to the selected listening device(s) requesting that the selected listening device(s) subscribe to the talking device; (4) and sending a media stream from the talking device to the selected listening device(s).

Abstract: Traffic through a bridge or other network device is directed in a manner that enables link aggregation and other layer-2 protocols to operate fully, even though the device may have as few as a single bidirectional link, with the remaining links being unidirectional. The protocol stack logic of the network device includes shim logic that receives traffic and processes it to determine to where it is to be directed.

Abstract: System and method for providing fast protection in a passive optical network (“PON”) including two central hubs and a plurality of network nodes, wherein the network nodes are connected to a first of the central hubs by a first optical path and to a second of the central hubs by a second optical path. The method comprises setting the first and second central hubs to master mode and slave mode, respectively, such that only the first central hub transmits traffic to and from the network nodes; detecting a failure in the first optical path; exchanging status information between the first and second central hubs; and if no failure has occurred in the second optical path, setting the first and second central hubs to slave mode and master mode, respectively, such that only the second central hub transmits traffic to and from the network nodes.

Abstract: A method is described herein for configuring a computer network managed by the IEEE Std 802.1s™-2002 MSTP standard or any other equivalent standard such as IEEE Std 802.1Q™-2003 in a fully- or semi-automatic manner such that: (1) if at all possible and in the case of a failure in the MSTP-based computer network affecting a Multiple Spanning Tree Instance (MSTI), MSTP reestablishes connectivity in that MSTI by preferably activating links whose activation ensures that the connectivity within a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) mapped onto and associated with that MSTI is not lost; and (2) a VLAN is mapped onto a MSTI whose active topology covers the topology of this VLAN, this being ensured by setting up that MSTI depending on the desired VLAN topology.

Abstract: Traffic through a bridge or other network device is directed in a manner that enables link aggregation and other layer-2 protocols to operate fully, even though the device may have as few as a single bidirectional link, with the remaining links being unidirectional. The protocol stack logic of the network device includes shim logic that receives traffic and processes it to determine to where it is to be directed.

Abstract: A method and an Ethernet local area network are described herein in which the Ethernet local area network is configured to enable a talking device (e.g., microphone) to send a media stream to one or more listening devices (e.g., speakers). In one embodiment, the method for configuring the Ethernet local area network includes the following steps: (1) providing a user of a talking device with a “relevant” catalog which contains information including positional information about one or more listening devices; (2) allowing the user to interface with the “relevant” catalog so they can select at least one of the listening device(s); (3) enabling the talking device to send a subscribe-request message to the selected listening device(s) requesting that the selected listening device(s) subscribe to the talking device; (4) and sending a media stream from the talking device to the selected listening device(s).

Abstract: A network (e.g., RSTP-based network) and method are described herein that can selectively eliminate latencies in the exchange of to-be-transmitted control messages (e.g., BPDUs) between bridges during the re/convergence of the network. The method includes a step of classifying to-be-transmitted control messages as either low-priority control messages or high-priority control messages. The method also has a step of limiting the transmission rate of the low-priority control messages in accordance with a traditional IEEE 802.1 RSTP. And, the method also includes a step of immediately transmitting the high-priority control messages that contain information that contributes to the re/convergence of the network.