Bridge for connecting an IEEE 802.3 local area network to an asynchronous time-division multiplex telecommunication network

• US 5,229,994 A
• Filed: 09/27/1991
• Issued: 07/20/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ALCATEL CIT 12, RUE DE LA BAUME
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent France, SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Balzano, Jean-Michel, Noslier, Yvon
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Blum, Russell
• Application Number:
  US07/766,547
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 370/85.13, 370/85.14, 370/79, 370/92, 370/94.2
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4608 LAN interconnection over ATM networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5615 Network termination, e.g. NT1, NT2, PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5619 Network Node Interface, e.g. tandem connections, transit switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/7453 using hashing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A bridge for connecting an IEEE 802.3 local area network to an asynchronous time-division multiplex telecommunication network comprises a part implementing the functions of layer 2.1 of an asynchronous time-division multiplex telecommunication network transmission protocol and a part which is a conventional local area network interface implementing the functions of layer 1 of the local area network data transmission protocol. The circuit is applicable to the transmission of data between different local area networks.

Claims

1. A bridge for connecting an IEEE 802.3 local area network to an asynchronous time-division multiplex telecommunication network, said bridge comprising:

first means implementing the functions of layer 2.1 of a data transmission protocol of the asynchronous time-division multiplex telecommunication network, said first means comprising a protocol processing circuit implementing the functions of level 2.1 of a telecommunication network data transmission protocol, a data memory, a processor, a send command memory, a receive command memory, a direct access memory, a cell receive memory for storing cells received from the telecommunication network and supplying them to the protocol processing circuit, a data bus connected to the protocol processing circuit, to the data memory, to the command memories and to the direct access memory, an address bus connected to the protocol processing circuit and to the data memory, and a processor bus connected to the processor, to the direct access memory, to the data memory and to said command memories; and

second means implementing the functions of layer 1 of a data transmission protocol in the local area network, said second means being connected to said first means and comprising a physical interface circuit appropriate to the local area network connected to the processor by the direct access memory.