Network multiplexer

摘要

A network interface for connecting a first network utilizing a first medium access control protocol to a plurality of relatively slower networks utilizing a second medium access control protocol. The network interface includes memory in which a table of addresses of nodes on the plurality of second networks is maintained. The network interface passes data from a data packet received from the first network to one of the plurality of second networks only if the destination address of the data packet matches one of the node addresses within the table of node addresses. The network interface passes data from a data packet received from one of the plurality of second networks to the first network only if the destination address of the data packet does not match a node address in the table of node addresses. The network interface passes data from a data packet received from one of the plurality of second networks to another of plurality of second networks only if the destination address of the data packet matches a node address in the table of node addresses.