System and method for selectively bridging and routing data packets between multiple networks
First Claim
1. A system for selectively bridging and routing data packets, comprising:
- a gateway device coupling a private network and a public network,the gateway device comprising;
a physical port for coupling to the private network;
a physical port for coupling to the public network;
a network device driver for each physical port configured to convert data packets back and forth between an Ethernet protocol and a network protocol of the private network;
a network device driver for each physical port configured to convert data packets back and forth between an Ethernet protocol and a network protocol of the public network;
a bridging module for routing each data packet to a appropriate network device driver based on each data packet'"'"'s intended destination;
a look-up module for use by the bridging module to store device addresses and physical port information;
a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) module and PPPoE Media Access Control (MAC) table for identifying and routing PPPoE data packets between a device on the private network and the public network using a first public Internet Protocol (IP) address without restricting other devices on the private network from accessing the public network using a second public IP address and allowing the device on the private network to bypass IP translation of the gateway device; and
a look-up module for use by the PPPoE module to store device addresses and physical port information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method to permit efficient communication between multiple devices having different network protocols and to permit a private network device to conduct a direct PPPoE session without restricting other devices on the private network from using another IP address. In particular, a gateway device is provided that translates and routes data packets between devices of different network protocols by referring to a table of device addresses and physical port information. Advantageously, the gateway device may maintain the table dynamically. An entry is created for a device the first time it sends a packet over the network, and an entry is deleted if a device has not sent a packet for a predetermined time interval. If no entry exists corresponding to a packet'"'"'s destination, the packet is sent to all devices on the network. Finally, the gateway device also identifies the ethertype of data packets and routes them accordingly.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A system for selectively bridging and routing data packets, comprising:
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a gateway device coupling a private network and a public network, the gateway device comprising; a physical port for coupling to the private network; a physical port for coupling to the public network; a network device driver for each physical port configured to convert data packets back and forth between an Ethernet protocol and a network protocol of the private network; a network device driver for each physical port configured to convert data packets back and forth between an Ethernet protocol and a network protocol of the public network; a bridging module for routing each data packet to a appropriate network device driver based on each data packet'"'"'s intended destination; a look-up module for use by the bridging module to store device addresses and physical port information; a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) module and PPPoE Media Access Control (MAC) table for identifying and routing PPPoE data packets between a device on the private network and the public network using a first public Internet Protocol (IP) address without restricting other devices on the private network from accessing the public network using a second public IP address and allowing the device on the private network to bypass IP translation of the gateway device; and a look-up module for use by the PPPoE module to store device addresses and physical port information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of selectively bridging and routing data packets, comprising:
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receiving a data packet from a source device in a private network at one of a plurality of physical ports of a gateway device; identifying a network protocol of the source device; translating, at said physical port of the gateway device, the data packet from the network protocol of the source device to an Ethernet protocol; identifying an ethertype of the data packet as Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE); enabling a PPPoE connection between a device on the private network and a public network with a PPPoE module and PPPoE Media Access Control (MAC) table to allow the device to use a first public Internet Protocol (IP) address without restricting other devices on the private network from accessing the public network using a second public IP address and to allow the device on the private network to bypass IP translation of the gateway device; identifying a destination device for the data packet; identifying a network protocol of the destination device; translating, at said physical port of the gateway device, the data packet from an Ethernet protocol to the network protocol of the destination device; and sending the data packet to the destination device. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification