A computer forms a node in a network, consisting of computer nodes linked together into a minimum spanning tree topology. When a computer receives a message from a first node linked to it, it forwards the message to other nodes linked to that computer, as well as storing information about the message....http://www.google.co.uk/patents/US5630184?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5630184 - Method of deleting and adding nodes in a spanning tree network by collating replies from other nodes
