Transmission of token-ring packets over ethernet by tunneling
First Claim
1. A method for converting a first network protocol packet to a second network protocol compatible packet for transmission on a second network protocol segment running a second network protocol, comprising:
- modifying a header portion of the first network protocol packet to generate a modified header that is compatible with the second network protocol, wherein the header portion of the first network protocol packet includes an Access Control field, a Frame Control field with at least three priority bits, a Source Address field with a Routing Information Indicator bit and a first Frame Check Sequence field, and wherein the modified header includes a modified Source Address field, a VLAN Identification field, a Length field, a Route Control field, a Route Descriptor field, a new Frame Check Sequence field, and a VLAN type field, the VLAN type field having a predetermined value stored therein, the predetermined value indicating that the second network protocol compatible packet has been converted from the first network protocol packet, and wherein the modifying step includes removing the Access Control field from the header portion of the first network protocol packet;
preserving the data portion of the first network protocol packet as the data portion of the second network protocol compatible packet; and
associating the modified header with the second network protocol compatible packet data portion to generate the second network protocol compatible packet,whereby the second network protocol compatible packet may be transmitted on the second network protocol segment.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Token Ring network packet having a header and an information field is prepared for transmission over an Ethernet network by the steps of removing the header information from the Token Ring packet, and associating a second header with the information field of the Token Ring packet, wherein the second header is compatible with the Ethernet network. More particularly, to prepare an IEEE 802.5 Token Ring network packet for transmission on an Ethernet network the Access Control ("AC") and Frame Control ("FC") fields are removed, the order of the destination address ("DA") field is reversed, the order of the source address ("SA") field is reversed, a Virtual Local Area Network ("VLAN") type field is added, a VLAN identification ("ID") field is added, and a length value field is added. The information field from the Token Ring packet is retained. However, if the newly formed tunneled packet would otherwise be smaller than the minimum size for an Ethernet packet the information field may be padded with null bits until the minimum size for an Ethernet packet is achieved.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for converting a first network protocol packet to a second network protocol compatible packet for transmission on a second network protocol segment running a second network protocol, comprising:
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modifying a header portion of the first network protocol packet to generate a modified header that is compatible with the second network protocol, wherein the header portion of the first network protocol packet includes an Access Control field, a Frame Control field with at least three priority bits, a Source Address field with a Routing Information Indicator bit and a first Frame Check Sequence field, and wherein the modified header includes a modified Source Address field, a VLAN Identification field, a Length field, a Route Control field, a Route Descriptor field, a new Frame Check Sequence field, and a VLAN type field, the VLAN type field having a predetermined value stored therein, the predetermined value indicating that the second network protocol compatible packet has been converted from the first network protocol packet, and wherein the modifying step includes removing the Access Control field from the header portion of the first network protocol packet; preserving the data portion of the first network protocol packet as the data portion of the second network protocol compatible packet; and associating the modified header with the second network protocol compatible packet data portion to generate the second network protocol compatible packet, whereby the second network protocol compatible packet may be transmitted on the second network protocol segment. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for conveying a Token Ring packet from a Token Ring network segment to an Ethernet network segment containing a plurality of Ethernet packets each with a respective destination address field by generating an Ethernet compatible packet from the Token Ring packet, the Token Ring packet including an information field and a header portion with an Access Control field, a Frame Control field with at least three priority bits, a Destination Address field, a Source Address field with a Routing Information Indicator bit and a first Frame Check Sequence field, comprising the steps of:
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modifying the Token Ring header portion to generate a modified header portion that is Ethernet compatible, the modified header including a modified Source Address field, a VLAN Identification field, a Length field, a Route Control field, a Route Descriptor field, a new Frame Check Sequence field, and a VLAN type field, wherein the VLAN type field includes a predetermined value stored therein, the predetermined value indicating that the Ethernet compatible packet has been converted from the Token Ring packet, and wherein the modifying step includes removing the Access Control field from the Token Ring packet; preserving the Information field of the Token Ring packet as an Ethernet compatible Information field; associating the modified header portion with the Ethernet compatible Information field to generate the Ethernet compatible packet; and transmitting the Ethernet compatible packet on the Ethernet network segment. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An interface circuit having a driver for creating an Ethernet compatible packet from a Token Ring packet from a Token Ring network segment for transmission on an Ethernet network segment containing Ethernet packets, the Token Ring packet including an information field and a header portion with an Access Control field, a Frame Control field with at least three priority bits, a Destination Address, a Source Address field with a Routing Information Indicator bit and a Frame Check Sequence field, comprising:
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a first function that modifies the Token Ring header portion to generate a modified header portion that is Ethernet compatible, the modified header including a modified Source Address field, a VLAN Identification field, a Length field, a Route Control field, a Route Descriptor field, a new Frame Check Sequence field, and a VLAN type field, the VLAN type field having a predetermined value stored therein, the predetermined value indicating that the Ethernet compatible packet has been converted from the Token Ring packet, and wherein the first function removes the Access Control field from the Token Ring packet; wherein the first function pads the Ethernet compatible Information field with null bits until the Ethernet compatible packet is compatible with Ethernet minimum size requirements; a second function that preserves the Information field of the Token Ring packet as an Ethernet compatible Information field; and a third function that associates the modified header portion with the Ethernet compatible Information field to generate an Ethernet compatible packet, whereby the Ethernet compatible packet may be transmitted on the Ethernet network segment and coexist with native Ethernet packets. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification