Patent ID: 7529243
Filing Date: 2009-05-05
Classification: A61B,H04L

Abstract:
1. A packet-forwarding apparatus for use in a network comprising network devices, the apparatus comprising, a storage for storing an address table having a number of entries comprising data link layer addresses for the network devices; an input to receive a first frame in a first frame format, the first frame format comprising a first data link layer header, a framing mechanism to encapsulate the first frame with a second data link layer header to form a second frame format, the second frame format representing a second tier of data link layer addresses in the network hierarchy; an output to forward the frame in the second frame format toward a destination electronic device; and a processor for updating the address table, wherein the number of entries in the address table increases linearly for each network device with a data link layer address that is associated with the second tier of the network hierarchy added to the network.