Patent ID: 6385198
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A system for exchanging signaling messages on a data network for the purpose of controlling transfer of data packets, the system comprising:a plurality of end-stations, each having a data network interface; a plurality of signaling controllers, each having a data network interface; a plurality of switches, coupled via a plurality of inter-switch communication links; wherein each switch is further comprised of a data network interface and a switch signaling controller; wherein each said switch is further comprised of a plurality of uniquely addressable input ports and output ports which are coupled to one another via the plurality of inter-switch communication links for the transfer of data packets within a plurality of predefined time intervals; wherein the end-stations, the plurality of signaling controllers, and the plurality of switches all communicate over the data network via the respective data network interfaces; and wherein the transfer of the data packets among the plurality of switches via the plurality of inter-switch communication links is provided during respective ones of the plurality of predefined time intervals, wherein each of the predefined time intervals is comprised of a plurality of predefined time frames.