Interworking functionality
AssigneeNortel Networks Limited
InventorsPaul Unbehagen, Vasile Radoaca
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one aspect a system and method for providing communication between Ethernet and frame relay routers includes generating a unique media access control (MAC) address for a frame relay router in communication with an Ethernet router, associating the MAC address with the frame relay router, and storing the MAC address in an interworking function device (IWF). The method also includes receiving at the IWF device an address resolution protocol (ARP) request from the Ethernet router and sending from the IWF device to the Ethernet router a response to the ARP request based on the stored MAC addresses.
Claims14
A method for providing communication between an Ethernet router and a second router having another protocol, the method comprising:
- generating a unique media access control (MAC) address for a port corresponding to the second router in communication with the Ethernet router;
- associating the MAC address with the port corresponding to the second router;
- storing the MAC address in an interworking function (IWF) device;
- receiving an address resolution protocol (ARP) request from the Ethernet router;
- and
- sending to the Ethernet router a response to the ARP request based on the stored MAC address.
A system comprising:
- an input port for a connection to a corresponding frame relay router,
- an input for a connection to an Ethernet router, and
- control circuitry that is adapted to:
- generate a unique media access control (MAC) address for the port corresponding to the frame relay router;
- associate the MAC address with the port corresponding to the frame relay router;
- store the MAC address in an interworking function (IWF) device;
- receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) request from the Ethernet router;
- and
- send to the Ethernet router a response to the ARP request based on the stored MAC address.
A method comprising:
- sending an ARP request from an Ethernet router;
- receiving a response to the request from an interworking function device, the response based on a MAC address for a port corresponding to a frame relay router stored in the interworking function device;
- and
- forwarding the packet to a frame relay router using another protocol based on the response.
A computer program product, encoded in a computer readable medium, for executing instructions on a processor, the computer program product being operable to cause a machine to:
- generate a unique media access control (MAC) address for a port corresponding to a second router in communication with an Ethernet router;
- associate the MAC address with the port corresponding to the second router;
- store the MAC address in an interworking function (IWF) device;
- receive an address resolution protocol (ARP) request from the Ethernet router;
- and
- send to the Ethernet router a response to the ARP request based on the stored MAC address.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.