1-46. (canceled)
47. A rotation indicator for mounting on and indicating the rotational position of a nut, the rotation indicator comprising:
(i) an annular body defining a void to receive the nut, an inside surface adapted to engage with the nut and prevent or impede relative rotational movement between the position indicator and the nut wherein said inside surface includes teeth or grooves, a first end comprising a male member and a second end comprising a female member;
(ii) a clamping means operable in a single operation to reduce the size of the void, frictionally engage the male and female members and apply a clamping force to the nut; and
(iii) an indicating element for visually indicating the rotational position of the nut.
48. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the clamping means is finger operable.
49. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the clamping means is operable by pinching or squeezing.
50. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the clamping means comprises a first grip point on the outside of the annular body and adjacent the first end of the annular body.
51. A rotation indicator according to claim 50, wherein the first grip point is a finger operable abutment member.
52. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the clamping means comprises a second grip point on the outside of the annular body and adjacent the second end of the annular body.
53. A rotation indicator according to claim 51, wherein the second grip point is a finger operable abutment member.
54. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the annular body is operable to be opened and hence render the first and second ends free.
55. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the annular body is resiliently deformable so that it can conform to, or towards, the shape of the nut on which it is mounted and return to its original shape and form when it is removed from the nut.
56. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the annular body is formed of a material that has a flexural modulus of 400 MPa-600 MPa.
57. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the male member is arcuate.
58. A rotation indicator according to claim 57, wherein the arcuate male member is angled such that when the clamping means is operated to reduce the size of the void, frictionally engage the male and female members and apply a clamping force to the nut, the arcuate male member defines a path that follows the outside surface of the annular body.
59. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the male member includes a linear ratchet means on one surface adapted for frictional engagement with the female member.
60. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the male member comprises a tapered distal end to facilitate engagement with the female member.
61. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the inside surface of the annular body further comprises a smooth portion.
62. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the female member comprises a pawl member for frictional engagement with the male member.
63. A rotation indicator according to claim 62, wherein the pawl member includes a latch means that is biased toward an axis defined by the path of the male member when in frictional engagement with the pawl member and moving past the pawl member such that the latch means can frictionally engage with the male member and (i) permit movement of said male member in a forward direction and (ii) arrest movement of said male member a reverse direction.
64. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein, in use, the inner surface of the annular body contacts all of the outside edges of the nut.
65. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, wherein the indicating element comprises a pointer.
66. A rotation indicator according to claim 47, adapted to assume at least two mounting arrangements: a first mounting arrangement at which relative movement between the rotation indicator and the nut is impeded but not prevented and a second mounting arrangement at which relative movement between the rotation indicator and the nut is prevented.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for preventing a layer-2 forwarding loop within a data-stitching network element, the method comprising:
assigning a new network circuit to the data-stitching network element;
determining that the new network circuit is assigned a VLAN that was previously assigned to an existing network circuit;
running spanning tree on a data-stitch created by the new network circuit;
removing a network circuit from the data-stitching network element;
determining that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit;
removing spanning tree from the other network circuit; and
determining that the another network circuit had spanning tree run thereon.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein running spanning tree on the data-stitch blocks the data-stitch.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said removing will be performed only in response to a determination that the another network circuit had spanning tree run thereon.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining if the removed network circuit had spanning tree run thereon.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein said determining that the another network circuit had spanning tree run thereon will be performed only in response to a determination that the removed network circuit did not have spanning tree run thereon.
6. A method for preventing a layer-2 forwarding loop within a data-stitching network element, the method comprising:
assigning a new network circuit to the data-stitching network element;
determining that the new network circuit is assigned a VLAN that was previously assigned to an existing network circuit;
running spanning tree on a data-stitch created by the new network circuit;
removing a network circuit from the data-stitching network element;
determining that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit;
removing spanning tree from the other network circuit; and
determining if the removed network circuit had spanning tree run thereon.
7. The method of claim 6, wherein said removing will be performed only in response to a determination that the removed network circuit did not have spanning tree run thereon.
8. The method of claim 6, wherein said determining that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit will be performed only in response to a determination that the removed network circuit did not have spanning tree run thereon.
9. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for preventing a layer-2 forwarding loop within a data-stitching network element, the computer program comprising:
a code segment for assigning a new network circuit to the data-stitching network element;
a code segment for determining that the new network circuit is assigned a VLAN that was previously assigned to an existing network circuit;
a code segment for running spanning tree on a data-stitch created by the new network circuit;
a code segment for removing a network circuit from the data-stitching network element;
a code segment for determining that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit;
a code segment for removing spanning tree from the other network circuit; and
a code segment for determining if the removed network circuit had spanning tree run thereon.
10. A method for ensuring that no layer-2 forwarding loops will be allowed within a telecommunications network, the method comprising:
defining a new network circuit for a network element;
assigning a VLAN for the new network circuit, comprising:
assigning a test VLAN for the new network circuit;
determining assignment of VLANs to other network circuits associated with the network element;
determining if the test VLAN intersects entirely with any of the other assigned VLANs;
determining if the test VLAN is distinct from all the other assigned VLANs; and
accepting the test VLAN in response to
a determination that the test VLAN intersects entirely with any of the other assigned VLANs, or
a determination that the test VLAN is distinct from all the other assigned VLANs;
running spanning tree on links of the network element associated with the new network circuit and assigned the VLAN; and
if the network element is a data-stitching network element;
determining that the VLAN assigned to the new network circuit was previously assigned to an existing network circuit, and
running spanning tree on a data-stitch created by the new network circuit.
11. A system for ensuring that no layer-2 forwarding loops will be allowed within a telecommunications network, the system comprising:
means for defining a new network circuit for a network element;
means for assigning a VLAN for the new network circuit, comprising:
means for assigning a test VLAN for the new network circuit;
means for determining assignment of VLANs to other network circuits associated with the network element;
means for determining if the test VLAN intersects entirely with any of the other assigned VLANs;
means for determining if the test VLAN is distinct from all the other assigned VLANs; and
means for accepting the test VLAN in response to
a determination that the test VLAN intersects entirely with any of the other assigned VLANs, or
a determination that the test VLAN is distinct from all the other assigned VLANs;
means for running spanning tree on links of the network element associated with the new network circuit and assigned the VLAN; and
a data-stitching network element including:
means for determining that the VLAN assigned to the new network circuit was previously assigned to an existing network circuit, and
means for running spanning tree on a data-stitch created by the new network circuit.
12. A method for preventing a data-stitch within a data-stitching network element from inadvertently being blocked, the method comprising:
removing a network circuit from the data-stitching network element;
determining that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit;
removing spanning tree from a data-stitch associated with the other network circuit; and
determining that the removed network circuit did not have spanning tree run thereon.
13. A method for preventing a data-stitch within a data-stitching network element from inadvertently being blocked, the method comprising:
removing a network circuit from the data-stitching network element;
determining that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit;
removing spanning tree from a data-stitch associated with the other network circuit; and
determining that the other network circuit had spanning tree run thereon.
14. A method for ensuring that no paths within a telecommunications network will inadvertently be blocked, the method comprising:
removing a new network circuit from a network element;
disassociating links of the network element from a VLAN assignment associated with the removed network circuit; and
if the network element is a data-stitching network element;
determining that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit,
determining that the another network circuit had spanning tree run thereon; and
removing spanning tree from a data-stitch associated with the other network circuit.
15. A network device for preventing formation of layer-2 forwarding loops within a telecommunications network, the network device comprising:
memory;
one or more network interfaces; and
a processor configured to:
define a new network circuit for the network device;
assign a VLAN for the new network circuit;
determine that the VLAN assigned to the new network circuit was previously assigned to an existing network circuit, and
run spanning tree on a data-stitch created by the new network circuit;
wherein said processor is further configured to run spanning tree on links of the network device associated with the new network circuit and assigned the VLAN.
16. The network device of claim 15, wherein said processor is further configured to:
remove a network circuit from the network device;
determine that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit; and
remove spanning tree from a data-stitch associated with the other network circuit.
17. The network device of claim 16, wherein said processor is further configured to disassociate links of the network device from a VLAN assignment associated with the removed network circuit.
18. A network device for preventing formation of layer-2 forwarding loops within a telecommunications network, the network device comprising:
memory;
one or more network interfaces; and
a processor configured to:
define a new network circuit for the network device;
assign a VLAN for the new network circuit;
determine that the VLAN assigned to the new network circuit was previously assigned to an existing network circuit, and
run spanning tree on a data-stitch created by the new network circuit;
wherein said processor assigns a VLAN for the new network circuit by:
assigning a test VLAN for the new network circuit;
determining assignment of VLANs to other network circuits associated with the network device;
determining if the test VLAN intersects entirely with any of the other assigned VLANs;
determining if the test VLAN is distinct from all the other assigned VLANs; and
accepting the test VLAN in response to
a determination that the test VLAN intersects entirely with any of the other assigned VLANs, or
a determination that the test VLAN is distinct from all the other assigned VLANs.
19. A network device for preventing paths within a telecommunications network from inadvertently being blocked, the network device comprising:
memory;
one or more network interfaces; and
a processor configured to:
remove a network circuit from the network device;
determine that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit,
determine that the another network circuit had spanning tree run thereon; and
remove spanning tree from a data-stitch associated with the other network circuit.
20. The network device of claim 19, wherein said processor is further configured to disassociate links of the network device from a VLAN assignment associated with the removed network circuit.
21. A network device for preventing paths within a telecommunications network from inadvertently being blocked, the network device comprising:
memory;
one or more network interfaces; and
a processor configured to:
remove a network circuit from the network device;
determine that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit; and
remove spanning tree from a data-stitch associated with the other network circuit;
wherein said processor is further configured to determine that the removed network circuit did not have spanning tree run thereon.
22. A network device for preventing paths within a telecommunications network from inadvertently being blocked, the network device comprising:
memory;
one or more network interfaces; and
a processor configured to:
remove a network circuit from the network device;
determine that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit, and
remove spanning tree from a data-stitch associated with the other network circuit;
wherein said processor is further configured to determine that the other network circuit had spanning tree run thereon.
23. A network device for preventing paths within a telecommunications network from inadvertently being blocked, the network device comprising:
memory;
one or more network interfaces; and
a processor configured to:
remove a network circuit from the network device;
determine that the removed network circuit was assigned a VLAN that is also used by another network circuit; and
remove spanning tree from a data-stitch associated with the other network circuit;
wherein said processor is further configured to:
define a new network circuit for the network device;
assign a VLAN for the new network circuit;
determine that the VLAN assigned to the new network circuit was previously assigned to an existing network circuit; and
run spanning tree on a data-stitch created by the new network circuit.
24. The network device of claim 23, wherein said processor is further configured to run spanning tree on links of the network device associated with the new network circuit and assigned the VLAN.