Patent ID: 6189042
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
In a LAN environment including:a plurality of communication paths each having a plurality of stations connected thereto wherein said communication paths include one or more local communication paths and one or more further communication paths; andat least one gateway having one or more local ports, each connected to a corresponding one of the local communication paths and one or more second ports each of which coupled to a further communication paths and/or a network,a method of forwarding an Address Resolution Protocol message (ARP request) including a location of a destination station broadcast by one of the stations connected to one of the communication paths, wherein the gateway includes stored data associated with the communication paths, so that the gateway forwards a communication establishing an ARP request only to the communication path to which the addressed station is connected, said method comprising the steps of:including in the stored data a range of addresses associated with the local and second ports; anddetermining from the range of addresses the local port and second port to which the ARP request will be forwarded so as to eliminate the need to forward the ARP request to the communication paths not connected to the addressed station.