Patent ID: 7161910
Filing Date: 2007-01-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A network node for a communications network which comprises a plurality of network nodes interconnected by communication links, wherein said network node is one of said plurality of network nodes, comprising: a first module, having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, for handling a group of channels between said input ports and said output ports as a routing unit; a second module, having an input port and an output port, for handling a channel between the input port and the output port as said routing unit; a module state database for storing module cost data of said first and second modules and module cost data of other network nodes; a link state database for storing link cost data of said communication links, a switching system for determining a route of minimum cost by using said module state database and said link state database and establishing, according to the determined route, a connection between one of a plurality of incoming communication links and one of the input ports of said first and second modules and establishing a connection between one of the output ports of said first and second modules and one of a plurality of outgoing communication links, wherein said switching system determines said route of minimum cost by: detecting available links along possible routes in said link state database and detecting available first and second modules in said module state database; forming a plurality of candidate paths by using the available links and the available first and second modules; calculating costs of said candidate paths by using said module and link state database; and determining one of said candidate paths having a minimum value of the calculated costs as said route of minimum cost.