Patent ID: 7136384
Filing Date: 2006-11-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for communicating data, the apparatus comprising: a line card operable to receive one or more asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) cells, the line card including: a segmentation and reassembly (SAR) element coupled to the network interface and operable to receive one or more of the Ethernet frames communicated by the Ethernet switch, wherein the SAR element is operable to segment one or more of the Ethernet frames into portions and to reassemble one or more of the portions in order to generate one or more Ethernet packets, the SAR element communicating one or more of the Ethernet packets to the Ethernet switch; and wherein the SAR element includes a unique MAC address, said unique MAC address identifies the SAR element and allows SAR element to receive data directed by other network equipments.