Interconnected Ethernet and 1394 network
First Claim
1. A link layer gateway computer operable to communicate a data packet from a source host computer selected from one of a plurality of host computers coupled to a first network medium to a destination host computer selected from one of a plurality of host computers coupled to a second network medium, wherein:
- a first network interface circuit enables connection of said link layer gateway computer to said first network medium; and
a second network interface circuit enables connection of said link layer gateway computer to said second network medium;
the link layer gateway computer has an assigned protocol address and a computer protocol handler;
responsive to either of the first and second network interface circuits receiving a data packet, the computer protocol handler evaluates a destination protocol address in the received data packet;
the computer protocol handler is responsive to the received data packet if the destination protocol address corresponds to the assigned address of the link layer gateway computer;
wherein the link layer gateway computer is programmed to execute a link layer protocol handler coupled to communicate with each of the first and second network interface circuits;
wherein, responsive to either of the first and second network interface circuits receiving a data packet comprising an address pairing communication, the link layer protocol handler evaluates a destination protocol address in the received data packet;
wherein, responsive to determining that the destination protocol address does not correspond to the assigned address of the link layer gateway computer, the link layer protocol handler determines if a source host computer which transmitted the received data packet and the destination host computer designated by the destination protocol address are not on the same one of either the first network medium or the second network medium;
wherein;
responsive to the link layer protocol handler determining that the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet and the destination host computer designated by the destination protocol address are not on the same one of either the first network medium or the second network medium, the link layer protocol handler communicates a reply data packet to the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet;
the reply data packet comprises an address pairing; and
the address pairing comprises the destination protocol address and a hardware physical address corresponding to a selected one of the first network interface circuit or the second network interface circuit, wherein the selected network interface circuit is coupled to the same network medium as the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A network configuration (10) including a first network medium which is a 1394 network as well as a second network medium. Each of the first and second network media is coupled to a corresponding plurality of host computers (H1 through H3 and H5 through H7). The network configuration further includes a link layer gateway computer (H4) coupled to both the first network medium and the second network medium. The link layer gateway computer is operable to communicate a data packet from a source host computer selected from one of the plurality of host computers coupled to the first network medium to a destination host computer selected from one of the plurality of host computers coupled to the second network medium. Additionally, the link layer gateway computer is operable to communicate a data packet from a source host computer selected from one of the plurality of host computers coupled to the second network medium to a destination host computer selected from one of the plurality of host computers coupled to the first network medium
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A link layer gateway computer operable to communicate a data packet from a source host computer selected from one of a plurality of host computers coupled to a first network medium to a destination host computer selected from one of a plurality of host computers coupled to a second network medium, wherein:
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a first network interface circuit enables connection of said link layer gateway computer to said first network medium; and a second network interface circuit enables connection of said link layer gateway computer to said second network medium; the link layer gateway computer has an assigned protocol address and a computer protocol handler; responsive to either of the first and second network interface circuits receiving a data packet, the computer protocol handler evaluates a destination protocol address in the received data packet; the computer protocol handler is responsive to the received data packet if the destination protocol address corresponds to the assigned address of the link layer gateway computer; wherein the link layer gateway computer is programmed to execute a link layer protocol handler coupled to communicate with each of the first and second network interface circuits; wherein, responsive to either of the first and second network interface circuits receiving a data packet comprising an address pairing communication, the link layer protocol handler evaluates a destination protocol address in the received data packet; wherein, responsive to determining that the destination protocol address does not correspond to the assigned address of the link layer gateway computer, the link layer protocol handler determines if a source host computer which transmitted the received data packet and the destination host computer designated by the destination protocol address are not on the same one of either the first network medium or the second network medium; wherein; responsive to the link layer protocol handler determining that the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet and the destination host computer designated by the destination protocol address are not on the same one of either the first network medium or the second network medium, the link layer protocol handler communicates a reply data packet to the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet; the reply data packet comprises an address pairing; and the address pairing comprises the destination protocol address and a hardware physical address corresponding to a selected one of the first network interface circuit or the second network interface circuit, wherein the selected network interface circuit is coupled to the same network medium as the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer, comprising:
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a first protocol handler coupling a first network interface circuit to an application program, wherein said first network interface circuit enables connection of said computer to a first network medium; a second protocol handler coupling a second network interface circuit to an application program, wherein said second network interface circuit enables connection of said computer to a second network medium; and a link layer protocol coupling said first protocol handler and said first network interface circuit to said second protocol handler and said second network interface circuit; wherein; said computer has an assigned protocol address; responsive to either of the first and second network interface circuits receiving a data packet, one of the first and second protocol handlers evaluates a destination protocol address in the received data packet; one of the first and second protocol handlers is responsive to the received data packet if the destination protocol address corresponds to the assigned address of the computer; the computer is programmed to execute the link layer protocol coupled to communicate with each of the first and second network interface circuits; responsive to either of the first and second network interface circuits receiving a data packet comprising an address pairing communication, the link layer protocol evaluates a destination protocol address in the received data packet; and responsive to determining that the destination protocol address does not correspond to the assigned address of the computer, the link layer protocol handler determines if a source host computer which transmitted the received data packet and the destination host computer designated by the destination protocol address are not on the same one of either the first network medium or the second network medium; responsive to the link layer protocol determining that the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet and the destination host computer designated by the destination protocol address are not on the same one of either the first network medium or the second network medium, the link layer protocol communicates a reply data packet to the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet; the reply data packet comprises an address pairing; and the address pairing comprises the destination protocol address and a hardware physical address corresponding to a selected one of the first network interface circuit or the second network interface circuit, wherein the selected network interface circuit is coupled to the same network medium as the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification