Compal Electronics has been granted a patent for a network device that includes a main bridge, a first bridge, a controller, and an Ethernet port. The device is capable of determining whether a path loop exists in a mesh network and can control the transmission of data based on various factors such as Ethernet interface weight and master device role. The device also has a split bridge mode to avoid path loops and ensure efficient network operation. GlobalData’s report on Compal Electronics gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Compal Electronics, device power optimization was a key innovation area identified from patents. Compal Electronics's grant share as of September 2023 was 65%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Network device with split bridge mode to avoid path loops
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11765606B2) describes a first network device with a split bridge mode that allows for independent use of individual bridges by multiple ports. The device includes a main bridge and a first bridge, as well as an Ethernet interface with a first Ethernet port that can be selectively set as either the main bridge or the first bridge. In the split bridge mode, one of the ports with the highest MAC address is set to a blocking state to prevent a downlink loop, while one of the ports of a second network device is set to a forwarding state to establish two separate local networks with the first network device and the second network device acting as master devices.
The first network device also includes a processing unit that controls the first Ethernet port when connected to a mesh network. It transmits a first broadcast packet carrying a first Ethernet interface weight (EIW) and parses a second broadcast packet received within a predetermined period to determine if a path loop exists. Based on the first EIW and the second EIW carried by the second broadcast packet, the processing unit determines whether the bridge of the first Ethernet port is set as the first bridge and if the first Ethernet port needs to be set to the blocking state.
The patent also describes the first network device's ability to be selectively set as a master device role or a slave device role. If set as the master device role, the first network device responds to network address requesting broadcast packets from other devices, while as a slave device role, it transmits the network address requesting broadcast packets to other devices. The processing unit performs various steps based on the role, including setting the bridge of the first Ethernet port as the first bridge and setting the first network device as the master device role when transmitting the first broadcast packet.
Additionally, the patent discusses scenarios where the first network device is connected to a mesh network and the processing unit determines the master device role based on the first MW and second MW carried by the second broadcast packet. The first network device can also be set as the slave device role, with the bridge of the first Ethernet port set as the first bridge and the first Ethernet port set to a learning state.
Overall, the patent describes a first network device with split bridge mode capabilities and the ability to function as either a master or slave device role in a network. The device's processing unit performs various steps to control the behavior of the Ethernet ports and bridges based on network conditions and configurations.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
