Importance

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Abstract

An address look-up mechanism in a multi-port bridge for controlling use of a memory as a look-up table for appropriately filtering and directing packets. The look-up table includes learned look-up tables, permanent look-up tables and linked lists. As a data packet originating from a node (source node) is received by a corresponding one of the ports (source port) of the multi-port bridge, a look-up cycle and then a learning cycle are each performed. During the learning cycle, an identification of the source port for the packet is stored in the learned look-up tables in association with a hashed node address of the source node. Each existing entry is examined to ensure that the appropriate port identification is stored and to determine whether two or more nodes share a same hashed node address. If two nodes have the same hashed node address, then a linked entry in the linked lists is formed. During the look-up cycle, the packet is examined to determine whether it is intended for a VLAN group, if the packet is to be broadcast to all nodes of the LAN or if the packet is intended for a single destination node. If the packet is intended for a VLAN group, the source node address for the packet is utilized to access an appropriate entry in the permanent table. If the packet is intended to be broadcast to all the nodes of the LAN, the packet is directed to all the ports. If the packet is intended for a single destination node, information stored in the learned look-up tables during learning cycles for prior packets is utilized to identify an appropriate destination port for the packet.

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First Claim