Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus, data structures, and method are provided for reducing data transmissions, especially ARP broadcast and response transmissions, within a computer network. An ARP caching station may be provided as an add-on component for a switching station. The ARP caching station then reads IP layer and MAC layer addresses of packets transmitted through the switching station and stores them in a database. In the database, each IP layer address is associated, or bound, with its corresponding MAC layer address. When the switching station receives an ARP broadcast with a designated IP address, the ARP caching station looks up the designated IP address in the database. If it has an associated MAC layer address in the table, the ARP caching station formulates a response to the broadcast containing the requested MAC layer address. If the requested MAC layer address is not in the cache of the ARP caching station, the switching station may then propagate the request to receive a response from the communication station having the requested MAC address.

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First Claim