Patent ID: 7003581

Claim:
A data transmission system operable for transmitting packet data from an Internet Protocol (IP) host over an IP network comprising: an IP layer; a network layer coupled to the IP network, wherein said IP host is coupled to said IP network via a layer 2 network, said layer 2 network interfacing said IP network with a set of routers; and a Multiple Address Resolution Protocol (MARP) layer, said MARP layer between said IP layer and said network layer, said MARP layer operable for selecting one router of said set of routers in response to a next hop IP address provided by said IP layer to said MARP layer when a packet of data is to be transmitted from said IP host over said IP network; wherein said IP host is provided with an Address Resolution Protocol (ARP), said ARP operable to convert any IP address into a network address of a router to be used in said layer 2 network by mapping said IP address, in an ARP table into a network address of an active router selected from said set of routers; wherein said MARP layer includes, a MARP table mapping said next hop IP address into a list of IP addresses of routers, said router addresses indicating routers selectable from said set of candidate routers, said IP addresses of said routers being mapped in said ARP table indicating active candidate routers able to be used as routers for transmitting said packet of data from said IP host to one or more of said workstations via said IP network.