摘要 |
<p>A method and apparatus for improved operation of a packet network by controllably providing switched physical alternate links between packet network nodes, at least one of which is a host, and using those switched physical alternate links to supplement the capacity of the packet network. A switched physical alternate link is composed of physical elements, switchab1e connection devices, and a manager, such that a switched physical alternate link behaves as a single point-to-point physical link between nodes in a packet network. Creating and removing switched physical alternate links as the packet network operates provides supplemental carrying capacity between the packet network nodes connected by switched physical alternate links, while overall packet network congestion is simultaneously reduced.</p> |