Data packet routing

Claim 2

A switching apparatus, comprising: at least one internal port, adapted for connection to an internal port of another switching apparatus; at least one external port, adapted for connecting to an external channel to receive information packets from and send information packets to the external channel; and internal switching logic, operating to receive incoming information packets from the external port intended for communication to an external channel connected to a different switching apparatus, and to replace a data layer header of the information packet with a VLAN header, in conventional WLAN format, which addresses said different switching apparatus, and to pass the information packet to its internal port with said WLAN header, to receive information packets on said internal port and to read said VLAN header and determine a switching of said information packets from said VLAN header and using a VLAN table to determine a switching of said information packets therefrom, and to switch the information packets to an internal port of another switching apparatus, or to remove the header and route to said external port, depending on contents of the VLAN header.

Claim 3

A switching apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the switching apparatus includes two internal ports, adapted for connection to respective internal ports of different other twitching apparatuses.

Claim 4

A switching apparatus as in claim 1 , wherein the internal switching logic also validates a VLAN header of an incoming information packet.

Claim 5

A switching apparatus as in claim 3 , wherein the internal switching logic determines a VLAN identifier for a next hop in the network, and wherein the VLAN header includes information indicative of the VLAN identifier.

Claim 6

A switching apparatus as in claim 1 , further comprising another switching apparatus, connected to said switching apparatus, and having its internal ports connection to internal ports of said switching apparatus.

Claim 7

The switching apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the switching apparatus and the another switching apparatus are included in a networking apparatus having a network identifier, and wherein the incoming information packets include information indicative of the network identifier in a network layer header of the incoming information packets.

Claim 8

The switching apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the networking apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a switch and a router.

Claim 9

A switching system, comprising: a first switching apparatus and a second switching apparatus, the first switching apparatus comprising: at least one internal port, adapted for connection to an internal port of the second switching apparatus; at least one external port, adapted for connecting to an external channel to receive information packets from and send information packets to the external channel; and internal switching logic, operating to receive incoming information packets from the external port intended for communication to an external channel connected to said second switching apparatus, to replace a data layer header of the including information Packets with a VLAN header, in conventional VLAN format, which addresses said second switching apparatus, and to pass the data to its internal port with said VLAN header, to receive information packets on said internal port from said second switching apparatus, and to read said VLAN header and determine a switching of said information packets from said VLAN header and determine a switching of said information packets therefrom, to switch the information packets to an internal port of said second switching apparatus, or to remove the VLAN header and route to said external port, depending on contents of VLAY header.

Claim 10

A switching system, comprising: a first switching apparatus and a second switching apparatus, the first switching apparatus comprising: at least one internal port, adapted for connection to an internal port of the second switching apparatus; at least one external port, adapted for connecting to an external channel to receive information packets from and send information packets to the external channel; and internal switching logic, operating to receive incoming information packets from the external port intended for communication to an external channel connected to said second switching apparatus, to replace a data layer header of the including information Packets with a VLAN header, in conventional VLAN format, which addresses said second switching apparatus, and to pass the data to its internal port with said VLAN header, to receive information packets on said internal port from said second switching apparatus, and to read said VLAN header and determine a switching of said information packets from said VLAN header and determine a switching of said information packets therefrom, to switch the information packets to an internal port of said second switching apparatus, or to remove the VLAN header and route to said external port, depending on contents of VLAY header.

Claim 11

A switching system as in claim 8 , further comprising a third switching apparatus, having its internal port connected to said internal port of said second switching apparatuses.

Claim 12

A switching apparatus as in claim 9 , wherein the internal switching logic determines a VLAN identifier for a next hop in the network, and wherein the VLAN header includes information indicative of the VLAN identifier.

Claim 13

A switching apparatus as in claim 8 , wherein the switching apparatus includes two internal ports, adapted for connection to respective internal ports of different other switching apparatuses.

Claim 14

A switching apparatus as in claim 8 , wherein the internal switching logic also validates a said VLAN header on an incoming information packet.

Claim 15

A switching apparatus as in claim 8 , further comprising another switching apparatus, connected to said switching apparatus, and having its internal ports connected to internal ports of said switching apparatus.

Claim 16

The switching system of claim 8 , wherein the first switching apparatus and the second switching apparatus are included in a networking apparatus having a network identifier, and wherein the incoming information packets include information indicative of the network identifier in a network layer header of the incoming information packets.

Claim 17

The switching system of claim 14 , wherein the networking apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a switch and a router.

Claim 20

An apparatus as in claim 16 , further comprising data instructions to validate information within said VLAN header.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the machine and the different machine are included in a networking apparatus having a network identifier, and wherein the incoming information packets include information indicative of the network identifier in a network layer header of the incoming Information packets.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the networking apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a switch and a router.