US6539019B1 — Methods and apparatus for automatically connectin…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of automatically connecting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) endpoint to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network having a switch operative to provide Local Area Network (LAN) emulation for a plurality of non-ATM endpoints, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining a LAN Emulation Client (LEC) for said VLAN in an absence of a request by any of said endpoints to communicate via said VLAN, wherein said LEC has been previously established for said VLAN; determining a predefined association between said VLAN and said DHCP endpoint upon connection of said DHCP endpoint to said switch; and mapping said DHCP endpoint to said LEC for communication via said VLAN.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 117 words

A method of automatically connecting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) endpoint to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) in an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network having a switch operative to provide Local Area Network (LAN) emulation for a plurality of non-ATM endpoints, the method comprising the steps of: maintaining a LAN Emulation Client (LEC) for said VLAN in an absence of a request by any of said endpoints to communicate via said VLAN, wherein said LEC has been previously established for said VLAN; determining a predefined association between said VLAN and said DHCP endpoint upon connection of said DHCP endpoint to said switch; and mapping said DHCP endpoint to said LEC for communication via said VLAN.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 20 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein any of said maintaining, determining, and mapping steps are performed by said switch.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 68 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein said determining step is performed by a network management station and further comprises the steps of: requesting a network address of said DHCP endpoint from said DHCP endpoint via said switch; and communicating said determination of said predefined association between said VLAN and either of an address of a port and the network address of said DHCP endpoint to said switch.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein a network address of said DHCP endpoint is a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 69 words

A method according to claim 1 and further comprising the steps of: maintaining a plurality of LECs for a plurality of VLANs in the absence of the request by any of said endpoints to communicate via any of said plurality of VLANs, wherein said plurality of LECs have been previously established for said plurality of VLANs; and discontinuing maintenance of a least-recently used one of said plurality of LECs.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of determining a predefined association comprises making an association between said VLAN and an address of a port.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of determining a predefined association comprises making an association between said VLAN and a Media Access Control (MAC) address of said DHCP endpoint.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of mapping comprises mapping an address of a port to said LEC.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of mapping comprises mapping a Media Access Control (MAC) address of said DHCP endpoint to said LEC.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 167 words

A method for automatically connecting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) endpoint to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) upon connection of said DHCP endpoint to an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network switch, said ATM network switch adapted to provide LAN emulation services for a plurality of DHCP endpoints, the method comprising the steps of: creating predefined associations between each VLAN to be supported by said switch and one or more DHCP endpoints; establishing a plurality of LAN Emulation Clients (LECs), each LEC associated with a different VLAN, wherein said plurality of LECs are continuously maintained in said switch even in an absence of a request by a DHCP endpoint to connect to a VLAN during which time a VLAN is inactive; upon connection of a DHCP endpoint to said switch, searching for a VLAN associated with said connected DHCP endpoint; determining a first LEC associated with said VLAN; and assigning said connected DHCP endpoint to said first LEC so as to enable communications via said VLAN.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 167 words

A method for automatically connecting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) endpoint to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) upon connection of said DHCP endpoint to an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network switch, said ATM network switch adapted to provide LAN emulation services for a plurality of DHCP endpoints, the method comprising the steps of: creating predefined associations between each VLAN to be supported by said switch and one or more DHCP endpoints; establishing a plurality of LAN Emulation Clients (LECs), each LEC associated with a different VLAN, wherein said plurality of LECs are continuously maintained in said switch even in an absence of a request by a DHCP endpoint to connect to a VLAN during which time a VLAN is inactive; upon connection of a DHCP endpoint to said switch, searching for a VLAN associated with said connected DHCP endpoint; determining a first LEC associated with said VLAN; and assigning said connected DHCP endpoint to said first LEC so as to enable communications via said VLAN.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method according to claim 10 , wherein said step of creating predefined associations comprises making associations between each VLAN and a port address.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method according to claim 10 , wherein said step of creating predefined associations comprises making associations between each VLAN and a DHCP endpoint Media Access Control (MAC) address.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method according to claim 10 , wherein said step of searching comprises searching for a VLAN associated with a port address said DHCP endpoint is connected to.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method according to claim 10 , wherein said step of searching comprises searching for a VLAN associated with a Media Access Control (MAC) address of said connected DHCP endpoint.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 170 words

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network switch for automatically connecting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) endpoint to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) upon connection of said DHCP endpoint to said switch, said switch adapted to provide LAN emulation services for a plurality of DHCP endpoints, comprising: means for creating predefined associations between each VLAN to be supported by said switch and one or more DHCP endpoints; means for establishing a plurality of LAN Emulation Clients (LECs), each LEC associated with a different VLAN, wherein said plurality of LECs are continuously maintained in said switch even in an absence of a request by a DHCP endpoint to connect to a VLAN during which time a VLAN is inactive; means for upon connection of a DHCP endpoint to said switch, searching for a VLAN associated with said connected DHCP endpoint; means for determining a first LEC associated with said VLAN; and means for assigning said connected DHCP endpoint to said first LEC so as to enable communications via said VLAN.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 170 words

An Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network switch for automatically connecting a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) endpoint to a Virtual Local Area Network (VLAN) upon connection of said DHCP endpoint to said switch, said switch adapted to provide LAN emulation services for a plurality of DHCP endpoints, comprising: means for creating predefined associations between each VLAN to be supported by said switch and one or more DHCP endpoints; means for establishing a plurality of LAN Emulation Clients (LECs), each LEC associated with a different VLAN, wherein said plurality of LECs are continuously maintained in said switch even in an absence of a request by a DHCP endpoint to connect to a VLAN during which time a VLAN is inactive; means for upon connection of a DHCP endpoint to said switch, searching for a VLAN associated with said connected DHCP endpoint; means for determining a first LEC associated with said VLAN; and means for assigning said connected DHCP endpoint to said first LEC so as to enable communications via said VLAN.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 26 words

The switch according to claim 15 , wherein said means for creating predefined associations comprises means for making associations between each VLAN and a port address.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 31 words

The switch according to claim 15 , wherein said means for creating predefined associations comprises means for making associations between each VLAN and a DHCP endpoint Media Access Control (MAC) address.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

The switch according to claim 15 , wherein said means for searching comprises means for searching for a VLAN associated with a port address said DHCP endpoint is connected to.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 32 words

The switch according to claim 15 , wherein said means for searching comprises means for searching for a VLAN associated with a Media Access Control (MAC) address of said connected DHCP endpoint.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2006-03-24	2006-09-23	2007-03-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2010-03-24	2010-09-23	2011-03-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2014-03-24	2014-09-23	2015-03-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Methods and apparatus for automatically connecting a dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) client network device to a virtual local area network (VLAN)

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