Patent ID: 6552999
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
An asynchronous transfer mode network connected to a plurality terminal equipment units, said asynchronous transfer mode network comprising:a plurality of exchangers, each exchanger connected to at least one of said plurality of terminal equipment units, at least a first exchanger maintaining existing connections and receiving a call signal sent from a first terminal equipment unit, said call signal indicating a request for admission of a connection and including a predetermined parameter representative of a network connection class, said network connection class being classified into a preferential connection class, a normal connection class, and unpreferential connection class; and a network controller connected to said plurality of exchangers and to said plurality of terminal equipment units by logic transmission line circuits, said network controller receiving said call signal from said first exchanger and judging whether or not said requested connection can be admitted in said asynchronous transfer mode network, and network controller; denying said requested connection when there is insufficient bandwidth in said network and said requested connection is of said normal connection class, denying said requested connection when there is insufficient bandwidth in said network and said requested connection is of said preferential class and said existing connections are only of said normal connection class, ordering said first exchanger to release at least one existing connection that belongs to the unpreferential connection class when said requested connection is of said preferential connection class, and ordering said first exchanger to admit said requested connection in response in the releasing of said at least one existing connection, thereby maintaining any predetermined existing connections of the normal connection class.