US5999535A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Short cut forwarding of local cells-in-frames traffic within local-area-networks
Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1997-05-28
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Granted: 1999-12-07
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Expires: 2017-05-28
Abstract
Abstract An enhanced cells-in-frames (CIF) network system for connecting a local-area-network (LAN) to an ATM network consists of CIF end-stations and an enhanced CIF attachment-device attached to a LAN segment. The enhanced CIF attachment-device in addition to performing its conventional functions, recognizes connection requests between local CIF end-stations and sets up short-cut forwarding between such end stations allowing them to transfer CIF frames directly over the Ethernet. In a conventional system such local traffic would broken up into a plurality of cells and sent over an ATM network.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter S. Wang
- 👤 Opher Yaron
- 👤 Zvika Bronstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 04:26
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04Q; H04Q11/00; H04Q11/04; H04Q11/0428; H04Q11/0478; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/54; H04L12/56; H04L12/5601; H04L2012/5614; H04L2012/5618; H04L2012/5638; H04L2012/5665
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of operation for a cells-in-frames (CIF) network system which enables CIF end-stations on the same local-area-network (LAN) segments attached off the same CIF attachment-device to send CIF frames to each other directly over the LAN, the method comprising: learning by each CIF attachment-device which CIF end-stations are attached off the same LAN segments, learning including: monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the CIF end-stations attached to said LAN; receiving by a CIF attachment-device of an asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) connection request from a first CIF end-station for connection to a second CIF end-station, wherein recording includes recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the second CIF end-station; determining by said CIF attachment-device whether said first CIF end-station is located on the same LAN segment as said second CIF end-station; responsive to determining that said first CIF end-station is located on the same LAN segment as said second CIF end-station transmitting by said CIF attachment device to said first and second CIF end-stations a setup acknowledgment message indicating media-access-control (MAC) addresses of said first and second end-stations; receiving said setup acknowledgment message by said CIF end-stations; transmitting CIF frames by said first CIF end-station to said MAC address of said second CIF end-station; and receiving of said CIF frames by said second CIF end-station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of operation for a cells-in-frames (CIF) network system which enables CIF end-stations on the same local-area-network (LAN) segments attached off the same CIF attachment-device to send CIF frames to each other directly over the LAN, the method comprising: learning by each CIF attachment-device which CIF end-stations are attached off the same LAN segments, learning including: monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the CIF end-stations attached to said LAN; receiving by a CIF attachment-device of an asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) connection request from a first CIF end-station for connection to a second CIF end-station, wherein recording includes recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the second CIF end-station; determining by said CIF attachment-device whether said first CIF end-station is located on the same LAN segment as said second CIF end-station; responsive to determining that said first CIF end-station is located on the same LAN segment as said second CIF end-station transmitting by said CIF attachment device to said first and second CIF end-stations a setup acknowledgment message indicating media-access-control (MAC) addresses of said first and second end-stations; receiving said setup acknowledgment message by said CIF end-stations; transmitting CIF frames by said first CIF end-station to said MAC address of said second CIF end-station; and receiving of said CIF frames by said second CIF end-station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said setup acknowledgment message also indicates the same virtual-path-identifier (VPI) and virtual-channel-identifier (VCI) to said first and second end-stations.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said LAN is an IEEE 802 LAN.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
164 words
A cells-in-frames (CIF) network system for connecting a local-area-network (LAN) to an ATM network comprising: a plurality of CIF end-stations; a LAN segment to which said CIF end-stations are attached; and an enhanced CIF attachment-device connected to said LAN segment, said enhanced CIF attachment-device comprising: means for recognizing a connection request from a first CIF end-station to a second CIF end-station, the means for recognizing a connection request including: means for learning which CIF end-stations are attached to the LAN segment, the means for learning including: means for monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and means for recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the second CIF end-station; and means, responsive to said connection request, for sending said first and second CIF end-stations a setup acknowledgment message containing the media-access-control (MAC) addresses of said first and second CIF end-stations, such that said first and second CIF end-stations can send CIF frames directly to each other over said LAN.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
164 words
A cells-in-frames (CIF) network system for connecting a local-area-network (LAN) to an ATM network comprising: a plurality of CIF end-stations; a LAN segment to which said CIF end-stations are attached; and an enhanced CIF attachment-device connected to said LAN segment, said enhanced CIF attachment-device comprising: means for recognizing a connection request from a first CIF end-station to a second CIF end-station, the means for recognizing a connection request including: means for learning which CIF end-stations are attached to the LAN segment, the means for learning including: means for monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and means for recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the second CIF end-station; and means, responsive to said connection request, for sending said first and second CIF end-stations a setup acknowledgment message containing the media-access-control (MAC) addresses of said first and second CIF end-stations, such that said first and second CIF end-stations can send CIF frames directly to each other over said LAN.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said enhanced CIF attachment-device is connected to said LAN segment through an Ethernet switching device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system as in claim 5 wherein a plurality of CIF attachment devices are connected to said LAN segment through said Ethernet switching device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said enhanced CIF attachment device is connected to said LAN segment through one or more Ethernet repeater devices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein a plurality of CIF attachment devices are connected to said LAN segment.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said setup acknowledgment message also indicates the same virtual-path-identifier (VPI) and virtual-channel-identifier (VCI) to said first and second end-stations.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 4 wherein said LAN is an IEEE 802 LAN.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of operation of a cells-in-frames (CIF) network system which allows CIF end-stations attached on the same local-area-network (LAN) segment to send CIF frames directly to each other over the LAN, the method comprising: learning by each CIF end-station which CIF end-stations are attached off the same LAN segment learning including: monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the CIF end-stations attached to said LAN; checking by a transmitting CIF end-station whether CIF frames to be transmitted to a receiving CIF end-station are being sent to a local CIF end-station, said local CIF end-station comprising a CIF end-station located on the same LAN segment as the transmitting CIF end-station; wherein recording includes recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the receiving CIF end-station; and sending by said transmitting CIF end-station CIF frames directly to said receiving CIF end-station over said LAN, when the receiving CIF end-station is determined to be a local CIF end-station.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
168 words
A method of operation of a cells-in-frames (CIF) network system which allows CIF end-stations attached on the same local-area-network (LAN) segment to send CIF frames directly to each other over the LAN, the method comprising: learning by each CIF end-station which CIF end-stations are attached off the same LAN segment learning including: monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the CIF end-stations attached to said LAN; checking by a transmitting CIF end-station whether CIF frames to be transmitted to a receiving CIF end-station are being sent to a local CIF end-station, said local CIF end-station comprising a CIF end-station located on the same LAN segment as the transmitting CIF end-station; wherein recording includes recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the receiving CIF end-station; and sending by said transmitting CIF end-station CIF frames directly to said receiving CIF end-station over said LAN, when the receiving CIF end-station is determined to be a local CIF end-station.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method of claim 11 wherein said step of sending by said transmitting CIF end-station further comprises: sending by said transmitting CIF end-station a setup acknowledgment message to said local CIF end-station; sending by said local CIF end-station a connection confirmation message to said transmitting CIF end-station; and sending by said transmitting CIF end-station CIF payload frames to said local end-station.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 12 wherein said setup acknowledgment message indicates the asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) and media-access-control MAC addresses of said transmitting CIF end-station.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 13 wherein said setup acknowledgment message also indicates a virtual-path-identifier (VPI) and virtual-channel-identifier (VCI) for an ATM connection.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 11 wherein said LAN is an IEEE 802 LAN.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
135 words
An enhanced cells-in-frames (CIF) attachment-device connected to a local-area-network (LAN) segment, said enhanced CIF attachment-device comprising: means for recognizing a connection request from a first CIF end-station to a second CIF end-station, the means for recognizing a connection request including means for learning which CIF end-stations are attached to the LAN segment, the means for learning including: means for monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and means for recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the second CIF end-station; and means, responsive to said connection request, for sending said first and second CIF end-stations a setup acknowledgment message containing the media-access-control (MAC) addresses of said first and second CIF end-station, such that said first and second CIF end-stations can send CIF frames directly to each other over said LAN.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
135 words
An enhanced cells-in-frames (CIF) attachment-device connected to a local-area-network (LAN) segment, said enhanced CIF attachment-device comprising: means for recognizing a connection request from a first CIF end-station to a second CIF end-station, the means for recognizing a connection request including means for learning which CIF end-stations are attached to the LAN segment, the means for learning including: means for monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and means for recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the second CIF end-station; and means, responsive to said connection request, for sending said first and second CIF end-stations a setup acknowledgment message containing the media-access-control (MAC) addresses of said first and second CIF end-station, such that said first and second CIF end-stations can send CIF frames directly to each other over said LAN.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An enhanced CIF attachment-device as in claim 16 wherein said setup acknowledgment message also indicates the same virtual-path-identifier (VPI) and virtual-channel-identifier (VCI) to said first and second CIF end-stations.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
An enhanced CIF attachment-device as in claim 16 wherein said LAN is an IEEE 802 LAN.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
174 words
An enhanced cells-in-frames (CIF) network system for connecting a local-area-network (LAN) to an asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) network comprising: an ATM network; a CIF attachment-device connected to said ATM network; a LAN segment to which said CIF attachment-device is also connected; and a plurality of enhanced CIF end-stations connected to said LAN segment, said enhanced end-stations comprising: means for recognizing local CIF end-stations, the local CIF end-stations being those CIF end-stations attached off the same LAN segment, the means for recognizing including means for learning which CIF end-stations are attached to said LAN segment, the means for learning including: means for monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and means for recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the second CIF end-station; and means for checking whether CIF frames to be transmitted are being sent to local CIF receiving end-stations; wherein recording includes recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the receiving CIF end-stations; and means, responsive to said check, for sending frames directly to local CIF end-stations over said LAN.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
174 words
An enhanced cells-in-frames (CIF) network system for connecting a local-area-network (LAN) to an asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) network comprising: an ATM network; a CIF attachment-device connected to said ATM network; a LAN segment to which said CIF attachment-device is also connected; and a plurality of enhanced CIF end-stations connected to said LAN segment, said enhanced end-stations comprising: means for recognizing local CIF end-stations, the local CIF end-stations being those CIF end-stations attached off the same LAN segment, the means for recognizing including means for learning which CIF end-stations are attached to said LAN segment, the means for learning including: means for monitoring by each CIF attachment-device of traffic on the LAN attached thereto; and means for recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the second CIF end-station; and means for checking whether CIF frames to be transmitted are being sent to local CIF receiving end-stations; wherein recording includes recording ATM and corresponding MAC addresses of the receiving CIF end-stations; and means, responsive to said check, for sending frames directly to local CIF end-stations over said LAN.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system as in claim 19 wherein said LAN is an IEEE 802 LAN.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
94 words
An enhanced cells-in-frames (CIF) end-station comprising: means for recognizing local CIF end-stations, local CIF end-stations being those CIF end-stations attached off the same local-area-network (LAN) segment, said means for recognizing local CIF end-stations include means for monitoring traffic on said LAN attached thereto and means for recording asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) and corresponding media-access-control(AC) addresses of receiving CIF end-stations attached to said LAN; means for checking whether CIF frames to be transmitted are being sent to local CIF end-stations, and means, responsive to said check, for sending frames directly to local CIF end-stations over said LAN.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
94 words
An enhanced cells-in-frames (CIF) end-station comprising: means for recognizing local CIF end-stations, local CIF end-stations being those CIF end-stations attached off the same local-area-network (LAN) segment, said means for recognizing local CIF end-stations include means for monitoring traffic on said LAN attached thereto and means for recording asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) and corresponding media-access-control(AC) addresses of receiving CIF end-stations attached to said LAN; means for checking whether CIF frames to be transmitted are being sent to local CIF end-stations, and means, responsive to said check, for sending frames directly to local CIF end-stations over said LAN.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
An enhanced CIF end-station as in claim 21 wherein said LAN is an IEEE 802 LAN.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-12-06 | 2003-06-07 | 2003-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-12-06 | 2007-06-07 | 2007-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-12-06 | 2011-06-07 | 2011-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |