METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR NON-DISRUPTIVE PHYSICAL ADDRESS RESOLUTION

摘要

Methods and systems for non-disruptive physical address resolution are disclosed. A cache manager/binding request generator (302) maintains a cache of network to physical layer address bindings and an age-out and a binding refresh request timer for each binding. The binding refresh timer is less than the age-out timer. In response to expiration of the binding refresh timer, the cache manager/binding request generator (302) generates a data-independent binding request and sends the request over a network. In response to receiving a reply to the binding request, the cache manager/binding request generator (302) updates the binding to indicate that a reply to the binding request has been received. When the age-out time expires, if the binding is in use and the reply has been received, the entry will be maintained in the cache. If the binding is not in use or the reply has not been received when the age-out timer expires, the binding will be deleted from the cache.