Patent ID: 6115379
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of processing data units according to cast type in a telecommunications bridge/router, such data units including a header portion with a source address and a destination address, comprising the steps of:determining in a first logic circuit, whether the cast type of the data unit is unicast,determining, in a second logic circuit, the source address of the data unit;in a third logic circuit, for a unicast data unit, employing the source address and destination address to obtain a transmit port indicator from memory, and directing the unicast data unit to the port indicated by the transmit port indicator;employing, for a non-unicast data unit, the source address and destination address to obtain a first port mask indicating valid ports for receipt of the data unit and a second port mask indicating valid ports for transmission of the data unit from memory, combining the first and second port masks to generate a third port mask and a fourth port mask, and directing the non-unicast data unit to the ports indicated by the third and fourth port masks, wherein said first and second port masks are combined in a logical AND operation to generate the third port mask for bridging.