Communication Relay With Unique MAC Addresses for VLAN Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional VLAN settings result in all divided LAN interfaces having the same MAC address, leading to incorrect frame transfer between network segments and impaired communication due to terminals with the same MAC address being connected to all ports, necessitating different MAC addresses for proper communication.

Innovation Solution

A communication relay device with a control device and switching device that sets unique MAC addresses for each LAN interface and controls communication to function as a virtual single switch, allowing each interface to have a distinct MAC address, enabling efficient network configuration and resource utilization without multiple routers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If VLAN settings are used to divide networks, then network segmentation is achieved, but all divided LAN interfaces have the same MAC address causing incorrect frame transfer

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork segmentationVSAvoidframe transfer accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network into multiple VLANs while assigning unique MAC addresses to each LAN interface. This allows the network to be divided into separate broadcast domains (improving adaptability) while each interface maintains its own identity through unique MAC addresses (preventing frame transfer errors)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each LAN interface is configured with locally unique properties (distinct MAC addresses) rather than sharing a common MAC address. This local differentiation ensures that frames are correctly associated with their intended network segment, resolving the contradiction between network segmentation and frame transfer accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If the same MAC address is assigned to all LAN interfaces, then configuration simplicity is maintained, but communication is impaired due to terminals being connected to all ports

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidcommunication functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the MAC address parameter from a uniform value across all interfaces to unique values for each interface. This parameter differentiation enables proper communication functionality while the automated assignment process maintains configuration simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If multiple routers are used to achieve proper communication, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidnumber of devices

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the functions of multiple routers into a single communication relay device by implementing unique MAC addresses for each LAN interface. This merging approach achieves the same communication reliability as multiple separate routers while reducing device complexity and network infrastructure requirements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS12445321B2Communication relay device, communication control method, and non-transitory computer readable storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 YAMAHA CORP

AI summary

A communication relay device includes a plurality of LAN ports configured to connect to at least one communication terminal; a first communication unit configured to receive first information transmitted from the at least one communication terminal via the plurality of LAN ports; a processor; and a memory configured to store a program, the program being executed by the processor to cause the processor to: set a LAN (Local Area Network) interface among a plurality of LAN interfaces for each of the plurality of LAN ports; set a MAC address from a plurality of MAC addresses for each of the plurality of LAN interfaces; and control communication so that each of the plurality of LAN interfaces functions as a virtual single switch associated with the MAC address.