Hybrid distributed broadcast and unknown server for emulated local area networks

A communication system comprising:

• a plurality of interfaces;
• and
• an asynchronous transfer mode switch for receiving data packets by way of virtual circuit connections from each of said interfaces, replicating said packets and sending them to said interfaces;
• said interfaces are disposed for sending data packets by way of virtual circuit connections and for receiving data packets by way of virtual circuit connections provided by said asynchronous transfer switch;
• said interfaces emulate at least one local area network by means of said virtual circuit connections;
• and
• said interfaces establish a distributed broadcast and unknown server for the broadcast of data packets throughout the emulated local area network, said distributed broadcast and unknown server comprising a mesh constituted by a multiplicity of point-to-multipoint virtual connections each of which extends by way of said asynchronous transfer mode switch from a respective one of the interfaces to all the other interfaces;
• wherein said system includes at least one terminal which is not connectable in said mesh,
• at least one interface comprises means for mapping virtual circuit connections between said one interface and said terminal into virtual circuit connections in said mesh;
• and
• said one interface includes a data bus and a processor, and is thereby disposed (i) to receive back from the mesh any packet sent to said mesh from said one interface;
• (ii) to send packets from said data bus to said mesh;
• and (iii) to send to said data bus data packets received from said mesh.