System and method for bridging local area networks using concurrent broadband channels

Claim 1

A system for bridging local area networks comprising: a plurality of local area networks, each comprising at least one station; a backbone network divided into a plurality of broadband channels; and a plurality of bridges, each bridge connected between one of the local area networks and the backbone network, each bridge comprising, a network interface means connected to one of the local area networks for transmitting and receiving messages to and from the local area network to which the network interface means is connected, a plurality of backbone network interface means connected to the backbone network, each of said plurality of backbone network interface means for transmitting and receiving messages to and from said backbone network over an assigned channel, said assigned channel being one of said plurality of broadband channels, a memory means connected to the interface means and the plurality of backbone network interface means, for storing a bridge identification address, a table of addresses, and for temporarily storing said messages, and a logic means connected to the network interface means, the plurality of backbone network interface means, and the memory means, for transferring messages between the network interface means and one of the backbone network interface means and for selecting one of said plurality of broadband channels over which to send said messages.

Claim 2

A system for bridging local area networks comprising: a plurality of local area networks, each comprising at least one station; a backbone network divided into a plurality of broadband channels; and a plurality of bridges, each bridge connected between one of the local area networks and the backbone network, each bridge comprising, a network interface means connected to one of the local area networks for transmitting and receiving messages to and from the local area network to which the network interface means is connected, a plurality of backbone network interface means connected to the backbone network, each of said plurality of backbone network interface means for transmitting and receiving messages to and from said backbone network over an assigned channel, said assigned channel being one of said plurality of broadband channels, a memory means connected to the interface means and the plurality of backbone network interface means, for storing a bridge identification address, a table of addresses, and for temporarily storing said messages, and a logic means connected to the network interface means, the plurality of backbone network interface means, and the memory means, for transferring messages between the network interface means and one of the backbone network interface means and for selecting one of said plurality of broadband channels over which to send said messages.

Claim 7

A system for bridging local area networks comprising: a plurality of local area networks, each comprising at least one station; a backbone network divided into a plurality of broadband channels; a plurality of bridge means, each connected between the backbone network and one of the local area networks, for allowing messages from a station in one local area network to be transmitted to one or more stations in one or more of the other local area networks, each of said bridge means comprising, a network interface means for transmitting and receiving local area network messages to and from said local area network, a plurality of backbone network interface means for transmitting and receiving backbone network messages to and from said backbone network, each of said plurality of backbone network interface means associated with one of said plurality of broadband channels, address table means for associating each station with a bridge means and for associating each bridge means with at least one of said broadband channels, encapsulation means for encapsulating a local area network message within a backbone network message for transmission over said backbone network as a backbone network message; and channel selector means for selecting one of said plurality of broadband channels for transmission of a backbone network message.

Claim 8

A system for bridging local area networks comprising: a plurality of local area networks, each comprising at least one station; a backbone network divided into a plurality of broadband channels; a plurality of bridge means, each connected between the backbone network and one of the local area networks, for allowing messages from a station in one local area network to be transmitted to one or more stations in one or more of the other local area networks, each of said bridge means comprising, a network interface means for transmitting and receiving local area network messages to and from said local area network, a plurality of backbone network interface means for transmitting and receiving backbone network messages to and from said backbone network, each of said plurality of backbone network interface means associated with one of said plurality of broadband channels, address table means for associating each station with a bridge means and for associating each bridge means with at least one of said broadband channels, encapsulation means for encapsulating a local area network message within a backbone network message for transmission over said backbone network as a backbone network message; and channel selector means for selecting one of said plurality of broadband channels for transmission of a backbone network message.

Claim 12

A method for bridging local area networks comprising the steps of: connecting a plurality of local area networks to a plurality of bridges, with each local area network connected to one bridge, and each bridge having at least one station; connecting each of said plurality of bridges to a backbone network, said backbone network divided into a plurality of broadband channels; determining the location of each station relative to its associated bridge; determining the broadband channels on the backbone network with which each bridge may communicate; reading the address of a local area network message on the local area network connected to a bridge and if said local area network message is addressed to a destination station within said local area network, then disregarding said message, and if said local area network message is addressed to a destination station in a second local area network of the plurality of local area networks, then encapsulating said local area network message within a backbone network message addressed to a destination bridge which is associated with said destination station; and selecting one of said broadband channels which is associated with said destination bridge for transmission of said backbone network message containing the encapsulated local area network message over said backbone network.

Claim 13

A method for bridging local area networks comprising the steps of: connecting a plurality of local area networks to a plurality of bridges, with each local area network connected to one bridge, and each bridge having at least one station; connecting each of said plurality of bridges to a backbone network, said backbone network divided into a plurality of broadband channels; determining the location of each station relative to its associated bridge; determining the broadband channels on the backbone network with which each bridge may communicate; reading the address of a local area network message on the local area network connected to a bridge and if said local area network message is addressed to a destination station within said local area network, then disregarding said message, and if said local area network message is addressed to a destination station in a second local area network of the plurality of local area networks, then encapsulating said local area network message within a backbone network message addressed to a destination bridge which is associated with said destination station; and selecting one of said broadband channels which is associated with said destination bridge for transmission of said backbone network message containing the encapsulated local area network message over said backbone network.