Patent ID: 6993036
Filing Date: 2006-01-31
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) exchange, comprising: an ATM switch; (a) a next hop information adder; and (b) a shared medium frame generator, separate from and connected to said next hop information adder by said ATM switch, said next hop information adder including: (a1) a first unit which converts an ATM cell including connection data, into a network layer packet; (a2) a second unit which extracts a network layer next hop out of said network layer packet; (a3) a third unit which converts said network layer next hop into associated connection data; and (a4) a fourth unit which receives said network layer packet from said second unit and said connection data from said third unit, and converts the thus received network layer packet and connection data into a first ATM cell and transmits said first ATM cell to said ATM switch, said shared medium frame generator including: (b1) a fifth unit that receives said first ATM cell from said ATM switch which converts said first ATM cell into a network layer packet and extracts said connection data out of said first ATM cell; (b2) a sixth unit which receives said connection data from said fifth unit and converts the thus received connection data into a shared medium address; and (b3) a seventh unit which receives said network layer packet from said fifth unit and said shared medium address from said sixth unit, and converts the thus received network layer packet and shared medium address into a shared medium frame.