Method for data transfer through a bridge to a network requiring source route information
First Claim
1. A method for handling data frames (71,81) by a bridge (51) between a first network (61) which does not require route information within data frames (81) and a second network (21,22,23,24,25) requiring route information (74) within data frames (71), the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a first data frame (81) from the first network (61), the first data frame (81) having a first destination address (72);
(b) when the first destination address (72) addresses a station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) and the bridge (51) has route information (74) to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25), performing the following substeps;
(b1) adding first route information (74) to the first data frame (81) to create a first modified data frame, and(b2) sending the first modified data frame out on the second network (21,22,23,24,25); and
,(c) when the first destination address (72) addresses a station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) and the bridge (51) does not have route information (74) to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25), initiating a route discovery process to discover a route to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25).
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for handling data frames (71,81) by a bridge (51) between a first network (61) which does not require route information within data frames (71,81) and a second network (21,22,23,24,25) requiring route information (74) within data frames (71,81) is presented. A system memory (12) includes an address table (14,140,141). In the address table (14,140,141) are a plurality of entries. Each entry is for a single station (31-60) on the first network (61) or the second network (21,22,23,24,25). Each entry contains a first field (17,170,171) which is the address of the station (31-60) and when the station (31-60) is in the second network (21,22,23,24,25) the entry additionally includes a second field (19,191) which contains a route to the station (31-60). When a first data frame (81) having a first destination address (72) is received from the first network (61), the address table (14,140,141) is checked for an entry which has the first destination address (81) in the first field (17,170,171). If an entry is found indicating that the first destination address (81) is for a station (31-54) in the second network (21,22,23,24,25), the route information (74) in the second field (19,191) is added to the first data frame (81) to create a first modified data frame and the first modified data frame is sent out on the second network (21,22,23,24,25). If no entry is found for the first destination address (81) a route discovery process is initiated to discover a route to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) with the first destination address (81).
93 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method for handling data frames (71,81) by a bridge (51) between a first network (61) which does not require route information within data frames (81) and a second network (21,22,23,24,25) requiring route information (74) within data frames (71), the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a first data frame (81) from the first network (61), the first data frame (81) having a first destination address (72); (b) when the first destination address (72) addresses a station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) and the bridge (51) has route information (74) to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25), performing the following substeps; (b1) adding first route information (74) to the first data frame (81) to create a first modified data frame, and (b2) sending the first modified data frame out on the second network (21,22,23,24,25); and
,(c) when the first destination address (72) addresses a station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) and the bridge (51) does not have route information (74) to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25), initiating a route discovery process to discover a route to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A bridge (51) between a first network (61) which does not require route information within data frames (71,81) and a second network (21,22,23,24,25) requiring route information (74) within data frames (71,81), the bridge (51) comprising:
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a first memory (3) which receives data frames (71,81) from the first network (61) and from the second network (21,22,23,24,25), the data frames (71,81) each having a destination address (72,82); a system processor (9), coupled to the first memory (3), the system processor (9) monitoring data frames (71,81) received by the first memory (3); and
,a system memory (12), coupled to the system processor (9), the system memory (12) including an address table (14,140,141), the address table (14,140,141) including a plurality of entries, each entry being for a single station (31-60) and each entry including a first field (17,170,171) containing an address of the station (31-60), and when the station (31-60) is in the second network (21,22,23,24,25) the entry includes a second field (19,191) which contains a route to the station (31-60); wherein when the first memory (3) receives from the first network (61) a first data frame (81) having a first destination address (72), the system processor (9) searches the address table (14,140,141) for the first destination address (72), the system processor (9) adding first route information (74) to the first data frame (81) to form a first modified data frame and sending the first modified data frame out on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) when the system processor (9) finds a second entry in the address table (14,140,141), the second entry including the first destination address (72) in a first field (17,170,171) of the second entry, and the first destination address (72) being address of a station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25), and the system processor (9) initiating a route discovery process to a station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) with the first destination address (72) when no entry in the address table (14,140,141) contains the first destination address (72). - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for handling data frames (71,81) by a bridge (51) between a first network (61) which does not require route information within data frames (71,81) and a second network (21,22,23,24,25) requiring route information (74) within data frames (71,81), the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving a first data frame (81) from the first network (61), the first data frame (81) having a first destination address (72); (b) when the first destination address (72) addresses a station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) and the bridge (51) has route information (74) to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25), performing the following substeps; (b1) adding route information (74) to the first data frame (81) to create a first modified data frame, and (b2) sending the first modified data frame out on the second network (21,22,23,24,25); and
,(c) when the first destination address (72) addresses a station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25) and the bridge (51) does not have route information (74) to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25), initiating a route discovery process to discover a route to the station (31-54) on the second network (21,22,23,24,25). - View Dependent Claims (13)
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Specification