DISTRIBUTED ROUTER OF CONNECTIONLESS PACKETS OVER CONNECTION ORIENTED NETWORKS

摘要

A network for routing datagrams which include at least one segment, the network comprising at least one segment switching means (101 ... 104) and a plurality of routers (111 ... 130) connected between the switching means (101 ... 104) and a plurality of terminals (91 ... 98) and adapted to process data in a datagram transferred from a first terminal (91) so as to pass the datagram from a first router (111) to a second router (118) via the switching means (101 ... 104) and pass the datagram from the second router (118) to a second terminal (96). A method of routing datagrams is also provided with the datagrams being routed through a hierarchical arrangement of switching means on the basis of their final destination addresses. A router for connecting the switching means and processing the final destination address to enable transfer of datagrams across the network is also provided.