Patent ID: 7894469

Claim:
A method for creating time-division multiplexed connections, comprising the steps of: mapping a network; specifying nodes between which to transmit a signal; collecting all communication paths between two nodes among the specified nodes as a path group; establishing a hierarchy among connection routes, wherein the connection routes are a collection of path groups; determining and choosing connection routes through the network between all the specified nodes based on the established hierarchy; automatically determining and choosing appropriate time slots in a time-division multiplexed signal between the specified nodes, wherein the appropriate time slots comprise free time slots, each having an associated unique index number; wherein the determination of appropriate time slots includes the creation of a representation of a plurality of the free time slots by depicting each free time slot as a vertex in a time slot graph; wherein choosing of appropriate time slots includes automatically selecting vertices from among the plurality of the available free time slots by incorporating the determined appropriate time slots in the time slot graph; and creating a connection between the specified nodes in alignment with a central clock based upon at least a portion of the determined connection routes and the appropriate time slots, wherein the establishing of the created connection utilizes (a) transmission rate of the connection, (b) path identifier and transmission rate of a source time slot, and (c) path identifier and transmission rate of a destination time slot.