Techniques for improving virtual channel management and maintenance in a network environment
US6920141B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 4, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 19, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 1, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L49/253
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention is directed to a flexible method of allocating groups of virtual circuits in a network as a virtual circuit bunch. A virtual circuit bunch of arbitrary number can be set up with the ease of setting up a single virtual circuit. A single virtual circuit bunch can have plural destinations. Further, a virtual circuit bunch can be routed to the same destination over different routes. Connections across the network can be initiated as separate virtual circuits and then be grouped together as a virtual circuit bunch. The implementation of virtual circuit bunches permits rapid setup of virtual circuits and reduced table sizes at individual nodes of the network. A fast connect service can be implemented using virtual circuit bunches without establishing a connection by assigning a fast connect packet to one virtual circuit of a virtual circuit bunch. Virtual circuit bunches permit cell interleaving problems found in ATM switches to be circumvented in a particularly convenient way.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.