3com Corporation

Convergent Technologies, Inc.

David Systems, Inc.

Jeffrey J Krause

Steven Paul Russell

John H Hart

Michael J Seaman

Niles E Strohl

William A Singleton

Mark H Sciulli

John J Drabczyk

George W Harris, Jr

Richard A Lagueux, Jr

Luca Kafiero

Maurilio T DeNicolo

Mario Mazzolo

Niles Edward Strohl

Michael John Seaman

A method manages transfer of multiple destination packets received at edge devices on a connection oriented network, such as ATM providing LAN emulation, where the connection oriented network provides emulation of one or more variant network protocols for systems coupled to the edge devices. The method includes maintaining status information for each port on edge devices on the connection oriented network, which provides an indication of network protocols not in use by systems accessible through the respective ports. Multiple destination packets received at an incoming port on an edge device are sent via the connection oriented network to a server on the connection oriented network. At the server, the network protocol for which the multiple destination packet is intended is determined. The server transmits via the connection oriented network the multiple destination packet to ports of edge devices, other than the incoming port, and other than ports for which the status information indicates that the determined network protocol is not in use by systems accessible through the port. The status information is learned at the edge devices based on activity on the respective ports, and reported by the edge device to the server.

Protocol for optimized multicast services for a connection oriented network providing LAN emulation

The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for facilitating high bandwidth transmissions of data through a computer network. The invention uses communications through a routed network, such as the Internet, to establish a communication pathway through a connection-oriented network, such as an ATM or a frame relay network. This technique effectively exploits the universal addressing structure of routed networks, such as the Internet, to establish high bandwidth connections through connect-oriented networks. The present invention also facilitates selection of a connection-oriented network for data transmissions from a plurality of connection-oriented networks based upon parameters such as availability and costs. One embodiment of the present invention facilitates connections through mixed connection-oriented and routed networks, as well as through multicast networks. Another embodiment multiplexes several flows of data into a single connection through a connection-oriented network.

Fast path networking

A method manages transfer of multiple destination packets received at edge devices on a connection oriented network, providing LAN emulation, where the connection oriented network provides emulation of one or more variant network protocols for systems coupled to the edge devices. The method includes maintaining status information for each port on edge devices on the connection oriented network, which provides an indication of network protocols not in use by systems accessible through the respective ports. Multiple destination packets received at an incoming port on an edge device are sent via the connection oriented network to a server on the connection oriented network. At the server, the network protocol for which the multiple destination packet is intended is determined. The server transmits via the connection oriented network the multiple destination packet to ports of edge devices, other than the incoming port, and other than ports for which the status information indicates that the determined network protocol is not in use by systems accessible through the port. The status information is learned at the edge devices based on activity on the respective ports, and reported by the edge device to the server.

Protocol for optimized multicast services for a connection oriented

DLL devices are built with multiple MAC address instead of a single MAC address, and provide a multiple virtual DLL interfaces to the upper layers (3-7) in a computer. This results in a new class of multi-function computers for attachment to a network system which take advantage of the multiple virtual DLL interfaces, to increase performance of the respective functions executed by the computer. Thus, a new network interface control apparatus and a new class of multi-function computer systems for attachments to networks are provided. The memory in the medium access control device stores a plurality of additional network addresses in addition to the assigned network addresses. The address filtering logic includes circuits responsive to the additional network addresses, such as logic for blocking a particular frame on at least one of the plurality of data channels when the source and destination address of a particular frame are found in the additional addresses stored in the memory. The plurality of data channels served by the media access control device may reside on a single physical interface, or in independent physical interfaces as suits the needs of a particular design. A high performance design would include independent buffering and queuing structures for each of the data channels. An alternative design may include shared buffering and queuing structures for a plurality of functional modules in the connected computer which have independent side network addresses.

Network station with multiple network addresses

Multifunction network station with network addresses for functional units

A method and apparatus for automatically and dynamically providing wiring connections at a central location coupled via ordinary phone lines to a plurality of work stations including a master work station. A central hub couples to a plurality of two wire telephone lines, each of which is coupled to an individual work station. The hub includes circuitry for monitoring transmissions to determine which of the work stations is the master. A receiver coupled to the master work station is coupled to transmitters to each of the other work stations. Receivers coupled to the remaining work stations are in turn coupled to a transmitter to the master work station.

Method and apparatus for coupling computer work stations

Growing community of inventors

Los Altos, CA, United States of America

Jeffrey J Krause