Patent ID: 6243381
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network comprising:a multiplicity of source stations, wherein each one of said source stations is identified by a source identifier (SID) wherein said source identifier comprises a virtual channel identifier sub-field and is connected to at least one non-merged virtual channel (VC);a first ATM switch having a first input, a second input, and an output, said first input being connected to one of said at least one non-merged virtual channels (VCs), said second input being connected to a different one of said at least one non-merged VCs; andat least one destination station connected to a merged VC, said destination station maintaining a SID allocation table containing each of said source identifiers (SIDs) and said merged VC being connected to said output.