Patent ID: 6205146
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network having a plurality of nodes, a network server application implemented on one of said nodes, a method of routing to a well known address, said method comprising the steps of:sending an indication message containing a cost value on a periodic basis out on all Network to Network Interface (NNI) ports in the node that implements said network server application;receiving a message containing said cost value on a node;registering said well known address and a received cost value associated therewith on the port receiving said indication message if said well known address has not been previously registered;updating an existing cost value with said received cost value;incrementing said received cost value by one to yield a new cost value;forwarding an indication message containing said new cost value out on ports having a larger cost value registered therewith and on ports without a registered cost value if said received cost value is smaller than or equal to the smallest cost value associated with other NNI ports; androuting a call request to said network server application, made by a user connected to a node, via the port with the smallest cost value associated therewith.