Patent ID: 6480888
Filing Date: 2002-11-12
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An interworked network comprising:a first network comprising: first network access nodes, a first network gateway node, and a first network concentrator node coupled between the first network access nodes and the first network gateway node; and a second network comprising: second network access nodes, a second network gateway node coupled to the first network gateway node via a network to network interface, and a second network concentrator node coupled between the second network access nodes and the second network gateway node, each concentrator node having a global address with significance across multiple paths within the first and second networks, the global address being recognized by multiple nodes within both networks and usable for routing without modification thereof, multiple virtual circuits being established between the first network access nodes and the first network concentrator node, the first network concentrator node being configured to switch data frames received on the multiple virtual circuits and having the global address of the second network concentrator node on a single virtual path connection to the first network gateway node, multiple virtual circuits being established between the second network access nodes and the second network concentrator node, the second network concentrator node being configured to switch data frames received on the multiple virtual circuits and having the global address of the first network concentrator node on a single virtual path connection to the second network gateway node, the gateway nodes being configured to switch data frames having a common global address on a single virtual path connection, thereby concentrating data frames into fewer connections across the network to network interface than would be necessary in the absence of the concentrator nodes, and a permanent virtual circuit control loop and a virtual path control loop being established between the at least one concentrator node and the network to network interface for traffic management.