Patent ID: 7525994

Claim:
A method for multiplexing packet data transmissions, comprising: assigning an identifier to a first network element, wherein said identifier identifies said first network element, and wherein said identifier is not an Internet Protocol address of said first network element; associating in at least a second network element said identifier with a plurality of data packets, wherein said identifier is not included in a destination address field of any of said plurality of data packets; recognizing in at least a third network element said identifier with respect to said plurality of data packets, wherein said identifier indicates to said third network element that data packets associated with said identifier can be aggregated with one another, and wherein said third network element aggregates said plurality of data packets, and wherein said third network element is not required to consider information in a destination address field in order to recognize data packets that can be aggregated with one another; aggregating in said third network element said plurality of data packets associated with said identifier together into a bundle of data packets; and addressing said bundle of data packets to said first network element.