Patent ID: 7254131

Claim:
A link layer gateway computer operable to communicate a data packet from a source host computer selected from one of a plurality of host computers coupled to a first network medium to a destination host computer selected from one of a plurality of host computers coupled to a second network medium, wherein: a first network interface circuit enables connection of said link layer gateway computer to said first network medium; and a second network interface circuit enables connection of said link layer gateway computer to said second network medium; the link layer gateway computer has an assigned protocol address and a computer protocol handler; responsive to either of the first and second network interface circuits receiving a data packet, the computer protocol handler evaluates a destination protocol address in the received data packet; the computer protocol handler is responsive to the received data packet if the destination protocol address corresponds to the assigned address of the link layer gateway computer; wherein the link layer gateway computer is programmed to execute a link layer protocol handler coupled to communicate with each of the first and second network interface circuits; wherein, responsive to either of the first and second network interface circuits receiving a data packet comprising an address pairing communication, the link layer protocol handler evaluates a destination protocol address in the received data packet; wherein, responsive to determining that the destination protocol address does not correspond to the assigned address of the link layer gateway computer, the link layer protocol handler determines if a source host computer which transmitted the received data packet and the destination host computer designated by the destination protocol address are not on the same one of either the first network medium or the second network medium; wherein: responsive to the link layer protocol handler determining that the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet and the destination host computer designated by the destination protocol address are not on the same one of either the first network medium or the second network medium, the link layer protocol handler communicates a reply data packet to the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet; the reply data packet comprises an address pairing; and the address pairing comprises the destination protocol address and a hardware physical address corresponding to a selected one of the first network interface circuit or the second network interface circuit, wherein the selected network interface circuit is coupled to the same network medium as the source host computer which transmitted the received data packet.