Bridging subnet broadcasts across subnet boundaries

摘要

Methods for bridging subnet broadcasts across subnet boundaries include: (a) receiving a first broadcast message that originates in a first subnet; (b) sending the first broadcast message to a second subnet; and (c) broadcasting the first broadcast message on the second subnet, wherein the first broadcast message is not sent from the second subnet back to the first subnet and/or it is not rebroadcast on the first subnet. Other methods of processing broadcast messages include: (a) receiving a first broadcast message on a first subnet; (b) determining whether the first broadcast message originated in the first subnet; and (c) when the first broadcast message originated in the first subnet, sending the first broadcast message to a second subnet. Such methods may further include, at least in some examples, marking the first broadcast message to indicate that it originated from the first subnet. Example systems for performing various bridging methods, including the bridging methods described above, may include, for example: (a) a receiver adapted to receive a first broadcast message, wherein the first broadcast message originates in a first subnet; (b) a repeater adapted to send the first broadcast message to a second subnet; and (c) a replicator adapted to broadcast a second broadcast message originating from a subnet other than the first subnet on the first subnet. All subnets involved in the communication may include this type of structure to enable cross communication of broadcast message data between the subnets.