Inventors:
Thinh Q. Nguyen - Raleigh NC, US
Qiao Xu - Raleigh NC, US
Robert Wallace - Apex NC, US
International Classification:
H04L 12/28, H04L 12/56, H04J 3/16, H04J 3/22
US Classification:
370390, 370392, 370396, 370408, 370466
Abstract:
Methods and systems for distributing messages of a ring-topology-based link level communications protocol over a star-topology using a star-topology-based link level communications protocol are disclosed. According to one method, when a packet of the ring-topology-based link level communications protocol is received, it is determined whether the packet is to be sent to a number of destinations and returned to a sender. If the packet is intended for distribution to a number of destinations and return to the sender, the packet is encapsulated in a frame of the star-topology-based link level communications protocol, the destination address in the frame is set to a next destination address in a virtual ring topology, the frame is forwarded to a switch. The switch forwards the packet to the next destination in the virtual ring based on the input port and the destination address of the star-topology-based link level communications protocol. The process continues until the packet reaches the last destination in the virtual ring where the packet is encapsulated in a frame of the star-topology-based link level communications protocol and returned to the sender.