Abstract: A system and method are provided for tracking connections in a network bundle including a plurality of network links. The method comprises: receiving packet fragments in a plurality of sampling rounds; for a current sampling round, recording which links have supplied a packet fragment; and, advancing a record of the received packet fragments in response a packet fragment on each link. Typically, the packet fragments are received with a corresponding first plurality of sequence numbers. Then, the lowest sequence number in the completed current sampling round is recorded. Some aspects of the method additionally comprise: for the current sampling round, establishing a flag register with a flag for each link; establishing a next lowest sequence number (Mn) register; and, establishing a current lowest sequence number (Mc) register. Then, a flag register flag is toggled in response to receiving a packet fragment on a corresponding link.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for initiating the reassembly of received packet fragments in a multilink communication network. The method comprises: receiving packet fragments with corresponding sequence numbers; counting the number of fragments received since the initiation of a pervious packet fragment reassembly; and, initiating packet fragment reassembly in response to the fragment count. Some aspects of the method further comprise: establishing a threshold; and, comparing the fragment count to the threshold. Then, initiating packet fragment reassembly includes initiating packet fragment reassembly when the fragment count equals the threshold. Other aspects of the method comprise tracking a RFC-1990 M value. Then, establishing a threshold includes establishing a WITH_M_UPDATE threshold.

Abstract: A multiported LAN switch comprised of legacy local area network ports and ATM ports. Each ATM port comprising a hardware forwarding engine for bridging LAN frames from the LAN ports to the ATM port. The hardware forwarding engine converts layer 2 protocols between the dissimilar ports expediently, without requiring intervention by a microprocessor. A substantial performance gain is attained compared to microprocessor controlled format converters. Both LAN emulation and virtual LANs are supported.