David A Bryant

US Patent:

6463064, Oct 8, 2002

Filed:

Aug 10, 1995

Appl. No.:

08/512598

Inventors:

Eric Charles Broockman - Raleigh NC
David Barrett Bryant - Raleigh NC
Lap Thiet Huynh - Raleigh NC
Joseph L. McKinnon - Raleigh NC

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

H04L 1244

US Classification:

370401, 370410

Abstract:

The method and apparatus of the present invention may be utilized to interconnect multiple local area networks to a data processing network including both multiple network nodes having routing and functional capability within the data processing network and multiple endpoint nodes having only local address capability, while minimizing the amount of routing information which must be maintained within the data processing network. A concentrator node is established for interconnection between each of the multiple local area networks and the data processing network. The concentrator node includes a network node interface having routing and functional capability for an associated local area network and an endpoint node interface having local address capability. When interconnected between a local area network and a selected network node within the data processing network, the concentrator node emulates a network node within the local area network while appearing as an endpoint node within the data processing network. The concentrator node maintains routing information for communication between the local area network and the data processing network in two segments.

US Patent:

52416828, Aug 31, 1993

Filed:

Apr 18, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/687278

Inventors:

David B. Bryant - Raleigh NC
Mark A. Cossack - Rochester MN
Dennis J. Frett - Rochester MN
Harold A. Himwich - Raleigh NC
Lap T. Huynh - Raleigh NC
John E. McGinn - Rochester MN

Assignee:

International Business Machines Corporation - Armonk NY

International Classification:

G06F 1300
G06F 1314

US Classification:

395800

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for interconnecting multiple data processing networks, each data processing network including: multiple network nodes having routing and functional capability within a data processing network; and, multiple endpoint nodes, each including only local address capability. Each network node may be connected to multiple endpoint nodes and other network nodes; however, connection is only permitted to network nodes within the same data processing network. A border node is established for interconnection between two data processing networks. The border node includes a network node interface having routing and functional capability within a first data processing network and an endpoint node interface having local address capability. When interconnected between the first data processing network and a network node within a second data processing network, the border node emulates a network node within the first data processing network while appearing as an endpoint node within the second data processing network, permitting full connectivity between the two networks. The border node then maintains routing information for communication between the two data processing networks in two segments.