Patent ID: 7039049

Claim:
A routing device operable to selectively bridge Ethernet frames related to a Point-to-Point Protocol over Ethernet (PPPoE) connection, the routing device comprising: a processor; memory; computer instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to perform the functions including: receiving an Ethernet frame from a first terminal, the Ethernet frame comprising an Ether_Type field and a destination address; storing the Ethernet frame in the memory; locating the Ether_Type field in the Ethernet frame; determining whether the Ether_Type field includes a discovery code or a session code identifying status of a PPPoE connection, wherein the Ether_Type field including the discovery code or the session code indicates that the Ethernet frame is related to the PPPoE connection; in response to a determination that the Ether_Type field includes the discovery code or the session code, bridging the Ethernet frame to a second terminal engaged in the PPPoE connection, the destination address of the Ethernet frame addressing the second terminal; and in response to a determination that that the Ether_Type field does not include the discovery code or the session code, routing the Ethernet frame to the second terminal.