Patent ID: 6452902
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A network comprising a plurality of switches interconnected by means of &bgr; links and edge nodes that connect to at least some of said switches via &agr; links and also connect to apparatus outside said network, and where datagrams are launched onto said network by said edge nodes, with each of said datagrams including a VPI, and an edge node destination, characterized in that:said switches route said datagrams according to the dictates of said VPI, and a first edge node of said edge nodes that is coupled to a first switch of said switches, when launching a first one of said datagrams to a second edge node of said edge nodes, employs a first VPI; and a third edge node of said edge nodes that is coupled to a second switch of said switches that is different from said first switch, when launching a second one of said datagrams to said second edge node of said edge nodes, employs said first VPI.