Patent ID: 6169739
Filing Date: 2001-01-02
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A communication method for an ATM network which is formed by a plurality of logical subnetworks to each of which a server and at least one client are connected, the server having means for resolving an ATM address of a destination client using a layer-3 address of a message from a source client, and means for routing a packet according to a layer-3 address of the packet, the method comprising the steps of: a) examining, at said source client, a layer-3 header of a packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic; b) if the packet has a connectionless traffic, transmitting the packet from said source client to said server for causing the server to route the packet through the network; c) if the packet has a connection-oriented traffic, transmitting a request message from said source client to said server for causing the server to resolve an ATM address of a destination client and return a reply message containing the resolved ATM address; and d) receiving the reply message at the source client and transmitting therefrom a signaling message containing the resolved ATM address to the network to establish a connection, and subsequently transmitting data packets over the established connection.