Patent ID: 7386605

Claim:
In a network device having memory and capable of forwarding data link layer protocols and network layer protocols, a method of transmitting packets, the method comprising: gathering information from a control message concerning a first device in communication with a first data link; storing the gathered information in a set of network information, the set of network information being stored in the memory; terminating the control message at the network device; responding to the control message using a subset of the set of network information; providing a subset of the set of network information to a second device in communication with a second data link, the first and second data links using different data link layer protocols; receiving, from the second device, information concerning a third device, the third device in communication with the second device through the second data link; storing the received information in the set of network information; providing, to the first device, network information representing the third device using a subset of the set of network information prior to receiving a request for the received information from the first device; receiving packets from the second device; and transmitting the packets to the first device using a subset of the set of network information.