Network interconnection system

A network interconnection system comprising:

• a plurality of input/output ports that are connected to outside networks, respectively;
• a network interface port connected to each of the input/output ports;
• a packet converter connected to the network interface port;
• and
• a hub connecting packet converters corresponding to respective ones of the input/output ports, wherein
• the network interface port comprises:
• a packet memory for storing an input packet signal received from a corresponding input/output port;
• and
• a first determiner for determining whether the input packet signal is an MAC (media access control) frame signal, to output a determination result and the input packet signal to the packet converter, and
• the packet converter comprises:
• a LCH header generator for generating a local channel header when it is determined that the input packet signal is not the MAC frame signal;
• a LCH packet combiner for combining the local channel header and the input packet signal to produce a local channel packet signal to be sent to the hub, wherein a form of the local channel packet signal is identical to the MAC frame signal and a content of a predetermined portion of the local channel packet signal is different from a counterpart of any MAC frame signal;
• a second determiner for determining whether an output packet signal is a local channel packet signal;
• and
• a local packet checker for reproducing a packet signal conforming to a corresponding network from the output packet signal when the output packet signal is a local channel packet signal, wherein, when the output packet signal is an MAC frame signal, the output packet signal is output as it is to the corresponding network.

A method for connecting a plurality of networks to each other through a switch having a plurality of input and output ports, comprising the steps of:

• storing an input packet signal received from an input port corresponding to a network;
• determining whether the input packet signal is an MAC (media access control) frame signal;
• when it is determined that the input packet signal is not an MAC frame signal, generating a local channel header based on a destination of the input packet signal;
• combining the local channel header and the input packet signal to produce a local channel packet signal, wherein a form of the local channel packet signal is identical to the MAC frame signal and a content of a predetermined portion of the local channel packet signal is different from a counterpart of any MAC frame signal;
• forwarding the local channel packet signal to a destination output port;
• and
• when it is determined that the input packet signal is an MAC frame signal, forwarding the input packet signal as it is to a destination output port.