ATM-LAN network having a bridge that establishes communication with or without LAN emulation protocol depending on destination address

摘要

In an ATM-LAN network, a number of ports of a bridge are uniquely identified by port numbers and connected to LAN segments and an ATM network. A MAC frame from a source terminal is received at a first port and buffered in a FIFO and a search is made through a memory for an entry containing the destination address of the frame. If the entry is found, the frame is forwarded onto a second port identified by a port number contained in the entry. If the entry is not found, an address resolution request is sent to a LAN emulation server via the ATM network to obtain an ATM address corresponding to the destination address of the frame. A connection setup request is sent to the ATM network to establish a virtual connection in the ATM network according to the destination ATM address. The frame is then forwarded onto the port to which the ATM network is connected.