Patent ID: 6625169
Filing Date: 2003-09-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A communications system for exchanging data between networks, comprising:a first network interface connected to a first network and exchanging data in a first network format with the first network; a second network interface connected to a second network and exchanging data in a second network format with the second network; a shared non-switched system bus operably connecting the first network interface and the second network interface; and a processor operably connected to at least one of the first network interface, the second network interface, and the shared non-switched system bus, the processor executing a software program therein for translating between at least one network format and a third format; wherein data received into one network interface is translated from the network format as received from the one network into a third format, the third format suitable for externally controlled software switched transmission from the one network interface directly to the other network interface by using network interface connection information represented as data received from at least one of the network interfaces indicating that at least two network interfaces are to exchange data therebetween.