Patent ID: 9313121
Filing Date: 2016-04-12
CPC Classification: H04L

Claim Text:
1. A method implemented by a Media Access Control (MAC) Ethernet switch in a network, the method comprising: receiving, from a first Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) router, a packet with a first IP address and a first MAC address identifying the first MPLS router as a source of the packet, and a second IP address and a second MAC address identifying a destination; upon resolving a destination MAC address, forwarding the packet directly to a second MPLS router by a data path determined by the MAC address of the second router; upon failing to resolve the destination MAC address, forwarding the packet to a plurality of Ethernet switches in the network using an out-of-band control associated with the Ethernet network, wherein each of the plurality of Ethernet switches transmits the packet to connectively coupled MPLS routers; receiving, from a second MPLS router connectively coupled to a second Ethernet switch, a second packet containing a second IP address and a previously unresolved MAC address identifying the second MPLS router as a source of the second packet; and forwarding, by the second Ethernet switch, the second packet to the plurality of Ethernet switches using the out-of-band control, wherein each of the plurality of Ethernet switches transmits the packet to connectively coupled MPLS routers.