Patent ID: 6957271

Claim:
A node for routing data on a transmission network, the transmission network comprising one or more network paths, the node comprising data processing layers associated with the one or more network paths, the data processing layers comprising first, second, and third layers, said second layer being between said first layer and said third layer in said layering and said first layer comprising at least Virtual Tributary level (VT), the node performing a cut-through transmission operation comprising: mapping a packet received from the network in said first layer; said first layer judging whether the packet is to be dropped at said node or to be hopped to a next node; said first layer transmitting the packet to said third layer which performs routing operations through said second layer when said first layer judges that the packet is to be dropped at said node; and said first or second layer transmitting the packet to said next node when said first layer judges that the packet is to be hopped, where the packet is transmitted without terminating the first layer.