Multimedia packet communication system

• US 5,440,551 A
• Filed: 01/04/1994
• Issued: 08/08/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Suzuki, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HOM, SHICK C
• Application Number:
  US08/177,755
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 370/60, 370/94.1, 370/60.1, 370/94.2, 370/68.1, 370/108, 370/79, 370/13.1, 370/85.13
• US Class Current: 370/395.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/563 Signalling, e.g. protocols, reference model
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5638 Services, e.g. multimedia, GOS, QOS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/205 Quality of Service based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/355 Application aware switches, e.g. for HTTP
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0478 Provisions for broadband connections

Abstract

A multimedia packet communication system wherein connections can be selectively used automatically and dynamically in accordance with qualities required by an application, in which a plurality of communications of different required qualities are involved, to set quality classes. The multimedia packet communication system comprises a network layer which can map a plurality of different required qualities from a layer protocol which is higher than the network layer into corresponding connection types. The network layer includes a driver for setting the thus mapped connections to individual packets.

Claims

1. A multimedia packet communication system, comprising:

a network layer; and

an application layer of a higher order than said network layer;

said application layer delivering a plurality of different quality parameters including an identifier between a stream type and a burst type, a degree of a delay of packet transfer and a degree of a throughput together with an address of the other party to said network layer;

said network layer including mapping means for mapping, for each packet, setting of a mode to a connectionless mode or a connection mode and setting of whether or not reservation of a band should be performed in accordance with the quality parameters delivered thereto from said application layer, and an ATM driver for establishing a connection to the address of the other party in accordance with a result of the mapping and executing band control to effect a transfer of packets in an asynchronous transfer mode.

2. A multimedia packet communication system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ATM driver transfers a packet in a permanent connection for exclusive use when a result of mapping of said mapping means indicates a connectionless mode.

3. A multimedia packet communication system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said driver first sets a connection by means of signalling means and then transfers the packet when the result of mapping of said mapping means indicates a connection mode and the setting that reservation of a band should be performed.