Method of managing virtual networks using a virtual network identifier
US5892912A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 29, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L2012/5626
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method is provided for managing virtual networks wherein switching hubs, each having ports to which nodes are respectively connected and having a bridging function, are interconnected via an ATM network, and predetermined ones of the ports of the switching hubs are grouped in order to construct virtual LANs. Data from a source node is transmitted to nodes belonging to the same group as the source node. A VLAN server, which stores MAC addresses of these nodes and VLAN identifiers in association with each other, is connected to the ATM network and collectively manages all nodes by means of the MAC addresses. The switching hub makes an inquiry for a VLAN identifier, and reconstructs or modifies the VLAN in accordance with a VLAN identifier responded from the VLAN server.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.