Patent ID: 6975633
Filing Date: 2005-12-13
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
1. A communications network for exchanging data packets of ATM connections, which is hierarchically constructed, the communications network comprising: a lowest network level having a plurality of network nodes, the plurality of lowest network level network nodes are each directly or indirectly connected, by at least one possible physical path, to terminal devices and to every other network node of the lowest network level; and higher network levels having network nodes, the higher network level network nodes each are administratively responsible for a group of network nodes situated in an underlying lower network level, wherein each network node situated in one of the higher network levels is physically connected to at least one network node and logically connected to every other network node, of the group of network nodes situated in the underlying lower network level for which the higher network level network node is responsible, wherein the higher network level network node is physically or logically connected to every other network node of a group of higher network level network nodes to which the higher network level network node itself belongs, wherein each higher network level network node provides each network node of a lower network level for which each higher network level network node is responsible, connection data which the lower network level network node requires to determine path information for the data packets of a concrete ATM connection in the communications network, and further comprising a data bank, in which connection data are kept available, arranged in each network node of the lower network level, wherein the data bank in each lower network level network node keeps available connection data for a closer environment, the closer environment defining network nodes in one group, wherein at least one additional data bank, which keeps available connection data for a wider environment, is provided and assigned to a network node of the lower network level, the wider environment defining all network nodes and groups of network nodes, and wherein a network node of a higher network level, which is responsible for the network node to which the at least one additional data bank is assigned, also comprises means for maintaining the connection data in the additional data bank.