Patent ID: 6097722
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A system, comprising:(a) a plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches that are interconnected with one another via at least one physical interface to form a network, each physical interface of said at least one physical interface extending from one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches to another interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches;(b) at least one virtual connection connecting one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches to at least one other interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches via one physical interface of said at least one physical interface, wherein each virtual connection has a corresponding bandwidth; and(c) a system control module connected to at least one interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches, said system control module in communication with each interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switch of said plurality of interconnected asynchronous transfer mode switches via said at least one physical interface, said system control module dynamically controls said corresponding bandwidth of said virtual connection over time, wherein said system control module is centralized for said system, further wherein said system control module on an ongoing basis determines whether said network is in an overload condition and said system control module also checks said overload condition and determines what said bandwidth of said virtual connection should be.