Final answer:
The field used to increase the number of bytes to the minimum of 46 when the data field is less than 46 bytes is called Data Padding in Ethernet frames.
Step-by-step explanation:
The field used to bring the total number of bytes up to the minimum of 46 if the data field is less than 46 bytes is known as Data Padding or sometimes simply Padding. In Ethernet frame structures, padding is necessary because the Ethernet protocol requires that data frames be at least 64 bytes in length. However, since the header of an Ethernet frame is 18 bytes, if the actual data payload is less than 46 bytes, padding bytes are added to meet the requirement.