Patent ID: 8155136

Claim:
A network interface controller comprising: a first physical layer circuit, for transmitting and receiving packets through a first network port; a second physical layer circuit, for transmitting and receiving packets through a second network port; a first media access controller, coupled to the first physical layer circuit, for generating packets to the first physical layer circuit in accordance with a destination address corresponding to data waiting for transmission, and processing received packets from the first physical layer circuit according to a first MAC address; a second media access controller, coupled to the second physical layer circuit, for generating packets to the second physical layer circuit in accordance with a destination address corresponding to data waiting for transmission, and processing received packets from the second physical layer circuit according to a second MAC address; a data path circuit, coupled to the first and second media access controllers, for receiving data outputted by the first or second media access controller according to a receive rule, and transmitting data to the first or second media access controller according to a transmission rule; and a host interface controller, coupled to the data path circuit, for receiving data outputted by the data path circuit and then transmitting the data to a host through a host interface, and downloading data from the host through the host interface and then outputting the data to the data path circuit.