Asynchronous transfer mode network

摘要

The present invention relates to an Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) network, and in particular to a system and a method for a number of ATM devices to share the facilities provided by a single ATM switch port. An ATM switch has a number of switch ports which may receive and transmit the data comprising information and a routing identifier. A number of ATM devices are connected in series to each other in a device chain, and at the ends to the chain to a first ATM port. The devices are adapted to distinguish between the information and the routing identifier and may receive and transmit information through the chain, with a first or head device receiving data from the ATM port and the last device transmitting data to the ATM port. A control computer is connected to a second ATM port and may be programmed with the identities of the ATM devices and communicate through the first switch port with a device in the device chain. Each ATM device may be programmed with mapping instructions so that data subsequently received by the device may be correctly routed according to the routing identifier.