Importance

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Abstract

A technique for more directly transmitting information between devices in different virtual local area networks ('VLANs') in a local area network ('LAN') is disclosed. A VLAN tag is used to forward a packet into the VLAN in which the destination device resides by attaching the VLAN tag associated with the destination device to each transmission. Devices that are not associated with the VLAN specified by the VLAN tag are thereby segregated from the packet and LAN background traffic overhead is reduced. To determine the appropriate VLAN tag the sending device transmits a NHRP query requesting connectivity information between the sender and receiver, and the receiver or an intermediary router responds with information including the VLAN tag of the receiver. Packets of data are then sent from the sending device to the receiving device with the VLAN tag of the receiver attached thereto so that a more direct connection is established with bridge hops replacing router hops.

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First Claim