US Patent 6859459 High-speed/high-reliability ether transmission system and I/F apparatus

An I/F apparatus (D-Ether) with a high-speed/high reliability interface function is provided for a typical network configuration comprising information processing devices such as a plurality of computers (PCs), 100Base-T hubs (HUBs), and 100Base-T Ether cables (Ethers) for connection among them, and a local bus (bus) with a higher speed than that of the Ethers connects a PC to the D-Ether. The D-Ether includes a plurality of LAN controllers and has a function for receiving IP packets at high speed from PC (5) to sequentially transfer the IP packets to the plurality of ports at the speed of the Ether. In addition, the D-Ether has a function for receiving IP packets from the plurality of ports to transfer the IP packets to PC (5) or another Ether port. The transfer processing is performed with reference to a MAC to port table memory in which information on transfer targets of IP packets and ports to be used is stored.