Patent ID: 6115372
Filing Date: 2000-09-05
Classification: H04L,H04M,H04Q

Abstract:
A synchronous packet switching (SPS) communication network having at least one communication device for forwarding a plurality of information packets, each information packet having a destination address and a source address in the communication network, the communication network including,a plurality of SPS communication devices, each SPS communication device having an at least one communication address, wherein the at least one communication address corresponds to one of the destination or source addresses of the plurality of information packets, anda plurality of virtual networks, wherein each communication address belongs to only one of the plurality of virtual networks, such that a first communication device can only communicate with a second communication device if each of the first and second communication devices both have their at least one communication address belonging to a common virtual network, each virtual network having a required bandwidth,wherein at least one SPS communication device from the plurality of SPS communication devices is communicatively coupled to at least one other SPS communication device from the plurality of SPS communication devices by a virtual path, the virtual path having an available bandwidth for conducting communications between the SPS communication device and the other SPS communication device, the SPS communication device receiving a first information packet from a source communication device, the destination address of the first information packet requiring that the first information packet be forwarded to the other SPS communication device, andwherein the SPS communication device determines whether the destination source addresses of the first information packet belongs to a unique virtual network, and if the destination and source addresses of the first information packet belongs to the unique virtual network, the SPS communication device compares the required bandwidth of the unique virtual network to the available bandwidth of the virtual path, and if the available bandwidth of the virtual path is equal or greater than the required bandwidth, the SPS communication device forwards the first information packet to the other SPS communication device, the SPS communication device establishing a selected virtual circuit of a plurality of virtual circuits, the selected virtual circuit indicative of a route and a required bandwidth associated with the forwarding of the first information packet.