METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMISSION OF SOURCE-ROUTED DATA

摘要

A method for constructing a return address for a data request transmitted across a network such as media-on-demand system is disclosed. Each switch through which a data packet is transmitted removes its identifier (361) from a destination address (351) and adds its identifier (363) to the return address. The method has the further feature of easily identifying a shortest path (379) from a plurality of paths that connect a plurality of data sources to a data requester.