Patent ID: 6189044
Filing Date: 2001-02-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of routing data packets in a network having a routing node, a source node and a destination node, each of said nodes having an associated network address and physical address, said routing node including memory containing the network and physical addresses for all other nodes within the network, each of said data packets including a destination node network address, the method comprising the steps of:receiving a data packet into said source node, said source node sensing the destination node network address of said data packet;said source node transmitting said data packet to said routing node;said routing node sensing the destination node network address within said data packet, re-transmitting said data packet to said destination node at said physical address associated with said network address within said data packet, and transmitting said destination node physical address to said source node; andsaid source node storing and associating said destination node physical address with said destination node network address such that subsequent data packets containing said same destination node network address are transmitted directly by said source node to said destination node at said destination node physical address.