encapsulating bridge

Also known as a Medium Access Control (MAC) bridge. A bridge that can interconnect two or more unlike networks, such as local area networks (LANs). In order to bridge an Ethernet LAN and a Token Ring LAN, an encapsulating bridge surrounds the native LAN frame with control information appropriate to the LAN on which the target device is attached, placing an Ethernet frame inside a Token Ring frame, or vice versa. See also encapsulate, Ethernet, frame, LAN, and Token Ring.