Method and system for providing interoperability between network clients having different versions of local-area network emulation user network interface within an asynchronous transfer mode emulated local-area network

摘要

A method for providing interoperability between multiple versions of LUNI within a mixed Asynchronous Transfer Mode emulated LAN is disclosed. The mixed ATM emulated LAN includes multiple LAN emulated clients (LE clients) having different versions of LAN Emulation User Network Interface (LUNI), such as a first version LUNI and a second version LUNI. The mixed ATM emulated LAN is served by a LAN Emulation Server (LES), a Broadcast and Unknown Server (BUS), and a LAN Emulation Configuration Server (LECS). When an LE Control Frame is being sent by an LE client having a second version LUNI, a determination is made as to whether or not the LE Control Frame will be received by an LE client having a first version LUNI. In response to a determination that the LE Control Frame sent by the LE client having a second version LUNI will be received by an LE client having a first version LUNI, the LE Control Frame is copied, and the copied LE Control Frame is converted to an LE Control Frame with a format that is readable by the LE client having a first version LUNI.