Patent ID: 6058429
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A learning internetwork switch for use in a network that includes a plurality of virtual local area networks, the learning internetwork switch comprising:a first set of ports connecting the leaning internetwork switch to a set of virtual local area networks, wherein each virtual local area network of the set of virtual local area networks is a virtual local area network of the plurality of virtual local area networks that is locally attached to the learning internetwork switch;a second set of ports connecting the learning internetwork switch to a router, wherein devices that belong to the virtual local area networks in the set of virtual local area networks communicate with the router by transmitting packets through the learning internetwork switch;a learning mechanism that inspects control packets sent between the router and the devices, the learning mechanism storing association data that indicates a correspondence between data link layer addresses, network layer addresses, and the first set of ports based on information contained in the control packets; andsaid learning internetwork switch using said association data to forward traffic between locally attached virtual local area networks.