US Patent 10033636 Ethernet segment aware MAC address learning

A computer-implemented method for assisting Ethernet Segment (ES)-aware media access control (MAC) address learning is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a provider edge (PE) device, a data packet from a core network, the data packet identifying an ES from which the data packet originated and identifying a MAC address as a source MAC address; determining whether the PE device has an Ethernet connection in the ES identified by the data packet; and, upon positive determination, associating the MAC address identified as the source MAC address of the data packet to a bridge port, at the PE device, of the Ethernet connection in the ES identified by the data packet.