Router using multiple hop redirect messages to enable bridge like data forwarding
US5500860A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 14, 1991 |
| Grant date | Mar 19, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 14, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L12/4625
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for forwarding a data packet from a first link to a second link is disclosed. The apparatus is coupled with a plurality of computer networks through ports on the apparatus. The apparatus maintains a spanning tree list indicating which of the apparatus ports are active. The apparatus receives a packet, and determines if the packet was received from a port that is active. If the packet was received from a port that is not active, the packet is discarded. If the packet is not discarded, the data link source address of the packet is stored in a database within the apparatus for the computer network coupled with the port from which the packet was received. The apparatus then decides, responsive to a contents of a data link destination address field in the packet, whether to forward the packet as a bridge or to forward the packet as a router. If the apparatus forwards the packet as a router, the apparatus sends a redirect message to update the data link layer destination address used by the originating station to contain the data link layer address of the destination station where the destination station is on a link remote from the link of the originating station. For the s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.