3com Corporation

Media 100, Inc.

Kevin Hinchey

Marshall Richard Houskeeper

John R Fierke

Timothy A Mancour

Apparatus and method for combining first and second video streams and a border color into a combined output video stream using a multiplexer and a video combiner. The multiplexer receives the first and second video streams as input and outputs a selected video stream in response to a control signal. The video combiner receives the border color at a first input and the selected video stream from the multiplexer at a second input and outputs a combined output based upon a key received at a key input.

Effecting video transitions between video streams with a border

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.

Growing community of inventors

Northborough, MA, United States of America

Kevin Hinchey