Patent ID: 7487263

Claim:
A partially interconnected network, comprising: a plurality of topological nodes, each topological node having at least three direct point-to-point topological links connected to other topological nodes, some, but not all, of the plurality of topological nodes having connected thereat one of a group of point of presence (PoP) units, said group of PoP units being arranged to provide access to a selected service or services, one, or more than one, of each of the at least three direct point-to-point topological links from each topological node not having connected thereat one of a group of PoP units connecting to one, or more than one, of the plurality of topological nodes having connected thereat one of the group of PoP units, and at least one choice of routing between any two topological nodes, the choice of routing being either via two topological links connected in series at another topological node or a direct point-to-point topological link between the two topological nodes, there being no direct connection between the PoP units in said group of PoP units.