Patent ID: 6219349
Filing Date: 2001-04-17
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A broadband communication network having a plurality of broadband communication nodes and a plurality of broadband inter-node transmission lines for connecting said plurality of broadband communication nodes, information being transmitted by packets, each of which comprises a header field and an information field, each of said broadband communication nodes comprising:a plurality of broadband input and output ports for transmitting and receiving said packets to and from other broadband communication nodes using said broadband inter-node transmission lines;a plurality of user interfaces to allow packets to be transmitted and received among end-user terminals; andswitching means for switching said packets according to said header field of each packet,wherein said broadband communication network comprises means for transmitting information composed of a plurality of said packet by selectively using all of, in the alternative, a constant bit rate transmission service, a variable bit rate transmission service, and a mixed bit rate transmission service mixing up constant bit rate part and variable bit rate part.