Patent ID: 6665300
Filing Date: 2003-12-16
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of setting up a connection over an ATM virtual channel connection (VCC) between first and second nodes in an asynchronous network in which said connection is identified by respective connection identifier (CID) values, the method comprising;at the first node, assigning a CID value to a connection request, storing the assigned CID value In a first status record associated with the first node, and signalling that connection request and assigned CID value over a signalling channel to the second node; and at the second node, receiving the connection request and CID value, comparing the CID value with a stored set of assigned CID values in a second status record associated with the second node, where the CID value is not assigned in the second status record, signalling to the first node a message accepting the connection request, and, where the CID value is assigned in the second status record, signalling to the first node a message refusing the connection request; wherein ownership of each CID value within said VCC is allocated to one or other of said first and second nodes, and wherein a connection request incorporating a CID value is granted to that one of the first and second nodes which owns that CID value in the event of a simultaneous connection request incorporating the same CID value from the other one of said first and second nodes, and wherein said first and second nodes allocate CID values from opposite ends of a range of said CID values.