Patent ID: 7248588

Claim:
A method of transmitting data packets (DAT) by way of a synchronous digital data transmission network (SDH) as defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in which the data packets (DAT) are packed into synchronous transport modules (STM-N), comprising the steps of using subunits (VC) of synchronous transport modules (STM-N) of the same size in order to establish logical virtual connections between network elements (NEl-NEn, MUX 1 , MUX 2 , CC 1 , CC 2 ) of the synchronous digital data transmission network (SDH), entering the virtual connections (LV 1 -LV 4 )into an address table (TAB), in at least one part of the network elements (NE 1 -NEn, MUX 1 , MUX 2 , CC 1 , CC 2 ) of the synchronous digital data transmission network, evaluating the target address (ZAD) of the data packets (DAT), at least for a part of the data packets (DAT) from at least one of the network elements of the synchronous digital data transmission network, on the basis of the address table (TAB) and the target address (ZAD), deciding which one of the virtual connections (LV 1 -LV 4 ) to use to transmit this data packet, and re-establishing the virtual connections at predetermined time intervals by using a central network management system.