FRAME RELAY-TO-ATM INTERFACE CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF OPERATION

摘要

There is disclosed, for use in a processing network containing a first node operable to transmit and receive frame relay data and a second node operable to transmit and receive asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) data, a network interface for converting the frame relay data to ATM data comprising: 1) a frame relay interface circuit operable to receive the frame relay data from the first node; 2) an ATM interface circuit operable to transmit the ATM data to the second node; 3) a data bus for coupling the frame relay interface circuit and the ATM interface circuit, the data bus operable to transfer frame payload data from the frame relay interface circuit to the ATM interface circuit; 4) a data traffic controller operable to receive frame header data from the frame relay interface circuit and control transfers of the frame payload data from the frame relay interface circuit to the ATM interface circuit; and 5) a bridge for coupling the data traffic controller to the data bus, the bridge isolating the data traffic controller from the transfers of the frame payload data.