Patent ID: 6411617
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A method of communicating first data packets having a first quality of service over a network system designed for communicating second data packets having a second quality of service, wherein the network system comprises a plurality of network nodes each having a network switch, comprising:switching the first data packets from each of a plurality of network switch input ports to a dedicated output port of the network switch; applying network node congestion control to the first data packets at the dedicated output port to selectively accept or discard individual ones of the first data packets in accordance with first quality of service acceptance principles; multiplexing accepted ones of the first data packets into one or more virtual paths having common output port destinations; inputting the one or more virtual paths into a dedicated input port of the network switch; and switching the one or more virtual paths at the dedicated input port to output port destinations of the network switch identified by the common output port destinations.