Local area network bridge
First Claim
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1. A method for operating a bridge between first and second communication networks, said method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a message frame from said first network;
reading a source address and a destination address included in said received frame;
determining whether said source and destination addresses of said received frame are included in a table of source addresses, said table including addresses of devices coupled to said first network;
discarding said received frame if both said received frame source and destination addresses are included in said table; and
transmitting said received frame to said second network if said received frame source address is not included in said table or if said received frame source address but not said received frame destination address is included in said table.
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Abstract
A method for operating a communication network bridge is disclosed. The bridge receives a message frame from a first network connected thereto and reads the source and destination addresses of the received frame. The bridge determines if the addresses are contained in a source address table maintained thereby and if both addresses are present, discards the frame. The bridge transmits the frame to a second network connected thereto if the source address is not in the table or if the source address but not the destination address is in the table.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for operating a bridge between first and second communication networks, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a message frame from said first network; reading a source address and a destination address included in said received frame; determining whether said source and destination addresses of said received frame are included in a table of source addresses, said table including addresses of devices coupled to said first network; discarding said received frame if both said received frame source and destination addresses are included in said table; and transmitting said received frame to said second network if said received frame source address is not included in said table or if said received frame source address but not said received frame destination address is included in said table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. Apparatus for establishing a bridge between a first and a second communication network, each of said networks being adapted to carry bit-serial message frames between devices coupled thereto, each said message frame including a source and a destination address, said apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a message frame from said first network; means for reading the source and destination addresses included in said received frame; means for determining whether said received frame source and destination addresses are included in a table of source addresses maintained by said bridge apparatus, said table including addresses of devices connected to said first network; means for discarding said received frame if both said received frame source and destination addresses are included in said table; and means for transmitting said received frame to said second network if said received frame source address is not included in said table or if said received frame source address but not said received frame destination address is included in said table. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for establishing a bridge between a pair of communication networks, each of said networks being adapted to carry bit-serial message frames between devices coupled thereto, each said message frame including a source and a destination address, said apparatus comprising:
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a pair of bridge sides each coupled to a respective one of said networks for transmitting and receiving message frames to or from its associated communication network; each of said bridge sides including; memory means for storing a message frame; means for receiving an incoming message frame from or transmitting an outgoing message frame to its associated communication network; controller means for directing said incoming message frame from said frame receiving means to said memory means or directing said outgoing message frame from said memory means to said frame transmitting means; processor means for reading the source and destination addresses of said incoming message frame and determining whether said incoming message frame is transmissible from one network to the other, said processor means maintaining a table including addresses of devices connected to its associated network; and said processor means determining said incoming frame is to be discarded if both said incoming frame source and destination addresses are included in said table, said processor determining said incoming frame is to be transmitted if said incoming frame source address is not included in said table or if said incoming frame source address but not said incoming frame destination address is included in said table. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification