Patent ID: 6377579
Filing Date: 2002-04-23
Classification: H04J,H04L

Abstract:
A system for transferring data packets from at least one end-station to a data communications network, the system comprising:a plurality of synchronous virtual pipe switches, each having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, each with a unique address; wherein a common time reference signal is coupled to each of the synchronous virtual pipe switches; a plurality of asynchronous switches, each having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, each with a unique address; interconnected communication links in a path in the network for connecting the end-station to the synchronous virtual pipe switch through the plurality of asynchronous switches; wherein there is a defined delay between the end-station and a first one of the synchronous virtual pipe switches; wherein each of said data packets has a pipe identification (PID); wherein the transfer of the data packet is provided during respective ones of a plurality of time intervals, wherein each of the time intervals is comprised of a plurality of time frames; and a delay analysis and scheduling controller for determining, for each of the synchronous virtual pipe switches, a first scheduled time within a first predefined time frame within which a respective one of the data packets is scheduled for transfer out of the respective synchronous virtual pipe switch.