US Patent 7606967 Frame transfer method and apparatus

In a frame transfer method and apparatus, a data entry into a content addressable memory is set to enable, and upon receipt of a transfer frame addressed to a first apparatus from a line bus, header information of the frame is entered into the content addressable memory based on the setting that the entry is enabled. The frame prepared based on header information entered into a content addressable memory of a second apparatus and transmitted by the second apparatus can be used, and the frame is discarded when it is not addressed to the first apparatus. Furthermore, normal frame processing is performed when the entry is not enabled by the setting.