Method and apparatus for switching routable frames between disparate media
First Claim
1. A method for switching frames between a medium operating according to a first protocol and a medium operating according to a second protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a frame;
determining whether a first address in the frame is a local address, including comparing a second address in the frame with the first address, wherein the second address is a Data Link layer address and the first address is not a Data Link layer address; and
formatting the first address in accordance with expectations of a station on the medium onto which the frame is being switched if the first address is determined to be a local address.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for switching/bridging frames between a heterogeneous media is disclosed. Bridges and/or switches normally bit-swap a MAC header of a frame when switching the frame between heterogeneous media. However, this practice introduces errors in address formats in certain situations. Such problems are resolved by investigating whether a frame to be switched includes local address components, and if so, these address components in the frame are manipulated to ensure that the address formats are proper for a media onto which the frame is being switched.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method for switching frames between a medium operating according to a first protocol and a medium operating according to a second protocol, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a frame;
determining whether a first address in the frame is a local address, including comparing a second address in the frame with the first address, wherein the second address is a Data Link layer address and the first address is not a Data Link layer address; and
formatting the first address in accordance with expectations of a station on the medium onto which the frame is being switched if the first address is determined to be a local address. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- receiving a frame;
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13. An apparatus for switching frames between a medium operating according to a first protocol and a medium operating according to a second protocol, the apparatus comprising:
- means for receiving a frame;
means for determining whether a first address in the frame is a local address, including comparing a second address in the frame with the first address, wherein the second address is a Data Link layer address and the first address is not a Data Link layer address; and
means for formatting the first address in accordance with expectations of a station on the medium onto which the frame is being switched if the first address is determined to be a local address. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- means for receiving a frame;
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22. A method for switching frames between a medium operating according to a first protocol and a medium operating according to a second protocol, wherein the first and second protocols are different, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a frame;
comparing a Data Link layer address in the frame with a Network layer address in the frame for a match; and
formatting the Network layer address in accordance with expectations of a station on the medium onto which the frame is being switched. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
- receiving a frame;
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30. An apparatus for switching frames between a medium operating according to a first protocol and a medium operating according to a second protocol, wherein the first and second protocols are different, the apparatus comprising means for receiving a frame;
- means for comparing a Data Link layer address in the frame with a Network layer address in the frame for a match; and
means for formatting the Network layer address in accordance with expectations of a station on the medium onto which the frame is being switched.
- means for comparing a Data Link layer address in the frame with a Network layer address in the frame for a match; and
Specification