Frame transmission method

Abstract

An apparatus for decreasing the hardware load from L2 switch MAC address learning for Ethernet-Over-SONET technology that uses VLAN, simplifying frame transmission between Ethernet and SONET, and improving the reliability of each device is disclosed. An Ethernet frame and SONET frame convertible interface part establishes a register that holds an Ethernet frame specific VLANID and SONET frame specific STS path ID in opposition, and a multiplexing part that multiplexes an Ethernet frame having a specific VLANID corresponding to a specific STS path ID that is held by a register among an input plurality of Ethernet frame VLAN ID's.

1 . A frame transmission method comprising:
 receiving an Ethernet frame having a value of a VLAN identifier;   extracting an Ethernet frame having a given value of the VLAN identifier;   encapsulating the extracted Ethernet frame into a predetermined format;   inserting a path identifier having a given value corresponding to the given value the VLAN identifier into the predetermined format;   multiplexing the predetermined format having the path identifier into a synchronous optical network frame; and   outputting the synchronous optical network frame.   
     
     
         2 . The frame transmission method according to  claim 1 , wherein the synchronous optical network frame is a SONET frame. 
     
     
         3 . The frame transmission method according to  claim 1 , wherein the path identifier is a STS path identifier of a SONET. 
     
     
         4 . The frame transmission method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 holding a relationship between the given value of VLAN identifier and the given value of the path identifier.