METHOD OF CONNECTING VLAN SYSTEMS TO OTHER NETWORKS VIA A ROUTER
First Claim
1. A method for connecting a local system comprising at least two VLANs connected to a local layer 2 switch to a wider network via a router, the method comprising:
- providing a connection between the local layer 2 switch and a port on the router;
assigning a single logical layer 3 interface to the at least two VLANs connected via the local layer 2 switch;
assigning a VLAN tag to each connected VLAN;
communicating outgoing data from a user connected to one of the at least two connected VLANs to the router via the local layer 2 switch, the outgoing data including an address of the user in the VLAN, the intended recipient of the data and the VLAN tag assigned to the VLAN to which the user is connected;
copying the address of the user and the VLAN tag to a forwarding table upon receipt of the outgoing data at the router;
forwarding the outgoing data from the assigned layer 3 interface to the wider network for delivery to the intended recipient;
receiving at the layer 3 interface incoming data intended for delivery to the user, the data including the address of the user;
consulting the lookup table to obtain the VLAN tag associated with the address of the user;
applying the VLAN tag to the incoming data; and
forwarding the incoming data and VLAN tag to the local layer 2 switch for delivery to the user.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A local system including at least two VLANs may be connected to a local layer 2 switch to a wider network by providing a connection between the local switch and a router port and a single logical layer 3 interface may be assigned to the VLANs. A VLAN tag may be assigned to each connected VLAN. Outgoing data including the user'"'"'s address, the intended recipient of the data and the VLAN tag assigned to the VLAN may be communicated to the router. The address of the user and the VLAN tag may be copied to a forwarding table, and the outgoing data may be forwarded to the wider network for delivery to the intended recipient. Incoming date intended for delivery to the user may be received at the assigned layer 3 interface and forwarded to the local switch for delivery to the user.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for connecting a local system comprising at least two VLANs connected to a local layer 2 switch to a wider network via a router, the method comprising:
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providing a connection between the local layer 2 switch and a port on the router; assigning a single logical layer 3 interface to the at least two VLANs connected via the local layer 2 switch; assigning a VLAN tag to each connected VLAN; communicating outgoing data from a user connected to one of the at least two connected VLANs to the router via the local layer 2 switch, the outgoing data including an address of the user in the VLAN, the intended recipient of the data and the VLAN tag assigned to the VLAN to which the user is connected; copying the address of the user and the VLAN tag to a forwarding table upon receipt of the outgoing data at the router; forwarding the outgoing data from the assigned layer 3 interface to the wider network for delivery to the intended recipient; receiving at the layer 3 interface incoming data intended for delivery to the user, the data including the address of the user; consulting the lookup table to obtain the VLAN tag associated with the address of the user; applying the VLAN tag to the incoming data; and forwarding the incoming data and VLAN tag to the local layer 2 switch for delivery to the user. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for connecting a user in a local system comprising a VLAN to a wider network, comprising:
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a local layer 2 switch to which the VLAN is connected, the local layer 2 switch having at least two VLANs connected thereto and being configured to assign a VLAN tag to each connected VLAN; and a router for receiving outgoing data from a user connected to one of the VLANs via the local layer 2 switch, the outgoing data including the address of the user in the VLAN, the intended recipient of the data and the VLAN tag assigned to the VLAN to which the user is connected, the local layer 2 switch being connected to a port on the router; wherein the router assigns a single layer 3 interface to the connected VLANs and, on receipt of the outgoing data, copies the address of the user and the VLAN tag to a forwarding table and forwards the outgoing data to the wider network via the layer 3 interface for delivery to the intended recipient; and
on receipt of incoming data at the assigned layer 3 interface intended for delivery to the user which includes the address of the user, consults the lookup table to obtain the VLAN tag associated with the address of the user, applies the VLAN tag to the incoming data, and forwards the incoming data and VLAN tag to the local layer 2 switch for delivery to the user. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification