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:
Jun. 29, 2004
Filed:
Dec. 16, 1999
Wesley R. Irish, Redwood City, CA (US);
Xerox Corporation, Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
Method and apparatus for exchanging packets between networks using switches and without using routers for routing the packets to the destination. The method includes assembling a logically addressed packet for transmission on a network. Furthermore, the method includes determining whether an address map of a host assembling the logically addressed packet includes a physical address of a destination. Moreover, the method includes encapsulating the logically addressed packet in the physical address of the destination to form an encapsulated logically addressed packet, when the physical address of the destination for the logically addressed packet is included in the address map of the host. Further, the method includes assessing whether the physical address of the destination indicates that the destination is part of the same network as the host, when the address map of the host does not include the physical address of the destination. In addition, the method includes broadcasting an address request for the physical address of the destination, when the address map of the host does not include the physical address of the destination; and receiving a response to the broadcasted address request, wherein the response provides the physical address of the destination, and wherein said receiving step is performed when the address map of the host assembling the logically addressed packet does not include the physical address of the destination.