The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 22, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 13, 1998
Anil G. Rijhsinghani, Marlborough, MA (US);
Enterasys Networks, Inc., Portsmouth, NH (US);
Abstract
A switch for use in a virtual area network communications system having multiple local area networks interconnected by multiple switches which are connected by a trunk having one or more trunk stations connected directly thereto, includes a first communications port, i.e., an access port, which connects to a first local area network. The first local area network is configured within a virtual area network which also includes a second local area network and a trunk station. The switch also includes a second communications port, i.e. a trunk port, connected to the trunk to which the trunk station is connected by another trunk port. A switch control console detects a multicast communication from the first local area network, duplicates the multicast communication to form a first communication and a second communication, appends a VLAN header to the first communication to form a VLAN communication, and directs transmission of the VLAN communication and the second communication to the second communication port, thereby facilitating delivery of the multicast communication to both the second local area network and the trunk station.