System and method for sending and receiving frames between a public device and a private device

A method for transmitting a frame received from a public device to a loop device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a frame from the public device, the frame having a source address and a destination address;
• determining if the destination address indicates a private loop device or a public loop device;
• if the destination address indicates a private loop device, performing a public-to-private address translation on the frame received from the public device and transmitting the frame to the private loop device;
• and
• if the destination address indicates a public loop device, transmitting the frame to the public loop device without performing an address translation.

An address translation module for use in a communication system for sending a plurality of frames across a fabric between at least one loop device coupled to a local loop and at least one public device coupled to the fabric, each frame having a source address and a destination address, the address translation module comprising:

• a destination device determination for determining if the destination device is a public or private device;
• a public-to-private address translation mapping for performing a public-to-private address translation on at least one of the plurality of frames received from the at least one public device if the destination device is a private device;
• and
• a private-to-public address translation mapping for performing a private-to-public address translation on at least one of the plurality of frames received from the at least one loop device if the destination device is a public device.

A method for transmitting a frame received from a private loop device, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving a frame from the private loop device, the frame having a source address and a destination address;
• determining if the destination address is to a public or private device;
• performing a private-to-public address translation on the frame received from the private loop device if the destination address is to a public device;
• and
• transmitting the frame to the public device.