Patent ID: 7933281
Filing Date: 2011-04-26
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method of network bridging wherein local nodes within a first sub-network communicate to remote nodes within a second sub-network using unique addresses assigned to each node, where bridge devices perform an interface function between the sub-networks, the method comprising the steps of: assigning a local address to each local node within a sub-network; within each sub-network, assigning an address to each remote node; wherein the step of assigning an address to each remote node comprises the steps of: collecting at the bridge device of each sub-network information about the remote nodes; appending the collected information about the remote nodes to the address assignment of each local node; mapping a remote node address to a virtual local address; performing another assignment of addresses to each local node within the sub-network that includes the remote node address information; and whereby within each sub-network the local nodes and the remote nodes are identified with unique addresses; and communicating between the local nodes and the remote nodes by translating in the bridge device between the virtual local addresses and the remote node addresses.