Patent ID: 7359394

Claim:
A network layer bridge for connection between network segments with different data link layer addressing, comprising: a plurality of ports, each for connection to a different network segment, wherein a first port is for connection to a first network segment and a second port is for connection to a second network segment; a memory for storing network layer addresses for nodes together with corresponding port identifiers and data link layer addresses, wherein the memory is adapted to store data link layer addresses of more than one type; wherein the network layer bridge is adapted to discover corresponding port identifier and data link layer address for a network layer address for which these are not already known; and to forward a message from a first node connected through the first network segment to the first port to a second node connected through the second network segment to the second port when the corresponding port identifier and data link layer address for both the first and second node are stored in the memory, wherein the message is addressed with the network layer address of the second node, and the network layer bridge directs the message though the corresponding port to the corresponding data link level address for the second node.