Packet switch communication network using packet having virtual channel identifier
First Claim
1. A packet communication network having a plurality of interconnected packet communication stations, and in which a packet, including in its header portion a virtual channel identifier for identifying a logical connection which determines a transmission route of the packet, is communicated between the packet communication stations, at least one of said packet communication stations comprising:
- means for determining, when a logical connection is set up between said one packet communication station and a second packet communication station, a first virtual channel identifier to be given to each information packet subsequently transmitted from said second packet communication station to said one packet communication station and informing said second packet communication station of said first virtual channel identifier by transmission of a control packet to said second packet communication station; and
means for receiving from said second packet communication station and storing a second virtual channel identifier for use by said one packet communication station in each information packet subsequently transmitted from said one packet communication station to said second packet communication station.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In a packet network which includes a plurality of packet switching stations and in which a packet including in its header portion a VPI (Virtual Path Indentifier) for identifying one of logical paths multipliexed on a transmission line and a VCI (Virtual Connection Identifier) for identifying one of logical connections multiplexed on one logical path is communicated between the switching stations, each switching station preliminarily designates a VCI to be given to a packet directed to that station when a logical connection is to be set up between that station and another station. When receiving an information packet from the other station, the each station makes access to header label conversion tables on the basis of a VCI included in the received packet to read internal routing information necessary for a packet switching operation and a VCI to be given to a packet to be delivered.
113 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A packet communication network having a plurality of interconnected packet communication stations, and in which a packet, including in its header portion a virtual channel identifier for identifying a logical connection which determines a transmission route of the packet, is communicated between the packet communication stations, at least one of said packet communication stations comprising:
-
means for determining, when a logical connection is set up between said one packet communication station and a second packet communication station, a first virtual channel identifier to be given to each information packet subsequently transmitted from said second packet communication station to said one packet communication station and informing said second packet communication station of said first virtual channel identifier by transmission of a control packet to said second packet communication station; and means for receiving from said second packet communication station and storing a second virtual channel identifier for use by said one packet communication station in each information packet subsequently transmitted from said one packet communication station to said second packet communication station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of communicating a packet in a network which includes a plurality of communication stations, the packet including in its header portion a virtual path identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical paths multiplexed on one transmission line and a virtual channel identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical connections multiplexed on one logical path, said method comprising, in at least one of the plurality of communication stations:
-
a first step of designating a first virtual channel identifier to be included in every information packet transmitted to said one communication station from a second communication station; a second step of transmitting a control packet including said first virtual channel identifier to said second communication station for setting up a logical connection with said second communication station; and a third step of receiving from said second communication station and storing a second virtual channel identifier which is to be used in a virtual channel identifier field of any information packet which is generated by said one communication station and is transmitted to said second communication station.
-
-
6. A method of communicating a packet in a network which includes a plurality of switching stations, the packet including in its header portion a virtual path identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical paths multiplexed on one transmission line and a virtual channel identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical connections multiplexed on one logical path, said method comprising:
-
a first step of designating, by virtue of a first control packet transmitted from a first one of said switching stations to a second one of said switching stations for setting up a logical connection therebetween, a first virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said second station to said first station; a second step of designating, by virtue of a second control packet transmitted from said second station to a third one of said switching stations for setting up a logical connection therebetween, a second virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said third station to said second station; a third step of designating, by virtue of a third control packet transmitted from said third station to said second station for setting up a logical connection therebetween, a third virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said second station to said third station; a fourth step of designating, by virtue of a fourth control packet transmitted from said second station to said first station for setting up a logical connection therebetween, a fourth virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said first station to said second station; and a fifth step of communicating between said first and third stations by (i) transmitting respective information packets with the fourth or second virtual channel identifier to said second station, (ii) converting in said second station the virtual channel identifier of the information packets received from said first or third station into said third or first virtual channel identifier. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. A method of communicating by packets in a network system including a plurality of interconnected packet switching stations, each of said packets including in its header portion a virtual path identifier and a virtual channel identifier, said method comprising;
-
a first step of exchanging virtual channel identifiers between packet switching stations by sending from a receiving station to a sending station a virtual channel identifier which is to be set in each information packet sent from the sending station to the receiving station, during a process for establishing a call between packet switching stations; and a second step of communicating information packets between packet switching stations, each of which stations operates to transmit information packets with the virtual channel identifier designated by the receiving station in the first step.
-
-
10. A method of communicating a packet in a network including a plurality of switching stations, the packet including in its header portion a virtual path identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical paths multiplexed on one transmission line and a virtual channel identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical connections multiplexed on one logical path, said method comprising:
-
a first step of designating, by virtue of a first control packet transmitted from a first one of said switching stations to a second one of said switching stations for setting up a call therebetween, a first virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said second station to said first station; a second step of designating, by virtue of a second control packet transmitted from said second station to said first station for setting up the call therebetween, a second virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said first station to said second station; and
a third step of communicating information packets between said first and second stations by providing each information packet with the first or second virtual channel identifier designated by the receiving station of said two stations.
-
-
11. A method of communicating a packet in a network which includes a plurality of switching stations, the packet including in its header portion a virtual path identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical paths multiplexed on one transmission line and a virtual channel identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical connections multiplexed on one logical path, said method comprising:
-
a first step of indicating, by virtue of a first control packet transmitted from a first one of said switching stations to a second one of said switching stations for setting up a call between said first station and a third one of said packet switching stations, a first virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said second station to said first station; a second step of designating, by virtue of a second control packet transmitted from said second station to a third station for setting up the call, a second virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said third station to said second station; a third step of designating, by virtue of a third control packet transmitted from said third station to said second station for setting up the call, a third virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said second station to said third station; a fourth step of designating, by virtue of a fourth control packet transmitted from said second station to said first station for setting up the call, a fourth virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said first station to said second station; and a fifth step of communicating between said first, second and third stations by transmitting information packets with one of said first, second, third and fourth virtual channel identifiers determined in accordance with the station to receiver the information packet. - View Dependent Claims (12)
-
-
13. A packet switching station for communicating with any one of a plurality of other stations by packets each including in its header portion a virtual channel identifier for identifying a logical connection which determines a transmission route of the packet, said packet switching station comprising:
-
control means for performing a connection control operation which includes means for determining, when a first logical connection is set up between said packet switching station and a first one of the other stations, a first virtual channel identifier to be given to each information packet subsequently transmitted from said first station to said packet switching station by way of the first logical connection and for informing said first one station of said first virtual channel identifier by a control packet; memory means connected so as to communicate with said control means within said packet switching station, for storing a second virtual channel identifier in correspondence to a second logical connection when said first one station or a second one of the other stations informs said packet switching station of said second virtual channel identifier by a control packet for setting up said second logical connection between said packet switching station and said first one or second one station; and interface means connected to said memory means, for giving, when an information packet is transmitted from said packet switching station to said first or second one station through said second logical connection said second virtual channel identifier read out from said storing means to said information packet and delivering the resultant information packet onto an outgoing line to which said first or second one station is connected. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A method of communicating a packet in a network which includes a plurality of switching stations, the packet including in its header portion a virtual path identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical paths multiplexed on one transmission line and a virtual channel identifier for identifying one of a plurality of logical connections multiplexed on one logical path, said method comprising:
-
a first step of designating, by virtue of a first control packet transmitted from a first one of said switching stations to a second one of said switching stations for setting a logical connection therebetween, a first virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said second station to said first station; a second step of designating, by virtue of a second control packet transmitted from said second station to said first station for setting up a logical connection therebetween, a second virtual channel identifier to be given to information packets transmitted from said first station to said second station; and a third step of communicating information packets between said first and second stations by giving each information packet the first or second virtual channel identifier designated by the receiving of said two stations.
-
-
18. A packet switching station for communicating with other stations connected thereto by packets each including in its header portion a virtual path identifier and a virtual channel identifier, said switching station comprising:
-
a switching means having a plurality of input lines and output lines and operating to switch a packet inputted on any one of said input lines to one of said output lines in accordance with routing information included in said packet; a plurality pairs of incoming lines and outgoing lines for respectively connecting said switching means to other stations; a plurality of interface means each provided for every pair of said incoming and outgoing lines to convert the header portion of a packet received from said incoming lines or one of said output lines of said switching means connected thereto and to apply the converted packet to one of said input lines of said switching means or one of said outgoing lines; and control means for controlling a call processing, said control means being connected to said switching means via one of said input lines and one of said output lines and having means for generating a call control packet to be transmitted to one of said other stations through said switching means in order to set up a call between the switching station and said one station, said control packet including information to designate a virtual channel identifier to be set in each information packet of said call when transmitted from said one station to the switching station. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
Specification