| 摘要 |
The present invention relates to a network element and an associated method, which facilitates communication of data frames between elemental devices (U1-Um) of a network element by using an LAN-based link system. Data applied to a port of a multi-port interface converter is formatted into a data frame which may selectively include a Q Tag Prefix populated with a VID (Virtual LAN Identifier) defined in the IEEE 802.1Q standard. If the data to be communicated by the multi-port interface converter is originated at the converter, the data is formatted into a data frame, but the prefix structure is not included, and therefore the frame is not populated with the VID. When the data frame is received at the router device, detection is made as to whether the data frame includes a prefix structure. Routing of the data of the data frame is made responsive to whether the prefix structure is formed of a VID contained in the data frame. Furthermore, an activity state of active and non-active units can be signaled using the proposed LAN-based link system. Thereby, communication between elemental devices of a network element can be facilitated and complexity can be reduced. |
