To frame or enclose a unit of information with control data in order that a network can process it properly. An encapsulating bridge, for example, can interconnect an Ethernet LAN and a Token Ring LAN, surrounding the native LAN frame with control information appropriate to the LAN on which the target device is attached. In other words, an encapsulating bridge places an Ethernet frame inside a Token Ring frame, or vice versa. Similarly, a frame relay access device (FRAD) encapsulates an Internet Protocol (IP) packet before presenting it to a frame relay network. See also bridge, Ethernet, FRAD, frame, frame relay, IP, LAN, packet, and Token Ring.