ADDRESS RESOLUTION MECHANISM FOR HYBRID COMMUNICATION NETWORKS

摘要

A hybrid device can execute hybrid ARP functionality to manage one-to-many associations between a single network layer address and multiple link layer addresses of other hybrid devices. In accordance with the hybrid ARP functionality, the hybrid device can determine a transmission route, a corresponding one of a plurality of network interfaces of a destination hybrid device, and a corresponding one of a plurality of link layer addresses of the destination hybrid device, based on address resolution store entries associated with the destination hybrid device. The identified link layer address can be populated in a frame for transmission to the destination hybrid device. Additionally, the hybrid ARP functionality can be configured to operate in conjunction with conventional ARP functionality implemented by upper protocol layers. The hybrid ARP functionality can serve as a "proxy" between the conventional ARP functionality and one or more hybrid devices of the hybrid communication network.