Abstract: A switching node for use in connection with a computer network includes an input interface, a buffer and a control element. The input interface receives cells from at least one input communication link. The buffer buffers selected cells prior to transmission over at least one output communication link. The control element selectively enables cells received by said input interface to be buffered in said buffer. The control element discards cells if the cell occupancy of the buffer exceeds a predetermined threshold level and a credits value indicates that the switching node has loaded a number of cells into the buffer for transmission which exceeds a cell loss ratio guarantee provided by the switching node.

Abstract: A switching node for use in connection with a computer network includes an input interface, a buffer and a control element. The input interface receives cells from at least one input communication link. The buffer buffers selected cells prior to transmission over at least one output communication link. The control element selectively enables cells received by the input interface to be buffered in the buffer. The control element discards cells if the cell occupancy of the buffer exceeds a predetermined threshold level and a credit value indicates that the switching node has loaded a number of cells into the buffer for transmission which exceeds a cell loss ratio guarantee provided by the switching node.

Abstract: A network comprises a plurality of switching nodes interconnected by communication links. The nodes transfer message packets thereamong over the communication links over paths defined through the nodes over the communication links. At least one of the nodes includes a communication link operational status determination element and an advertising message packet broadcast element. The communication link operational status determination element determines the operational status of the communication links, and the advertising message packet broadcast element broadcasts advertising message packets over the network including the operational status of the communication links. The other switching nodes in the network receive the advertising message packets and determine from the operational status identifier values whether to initiate a re-routing operation to re-route a path to avoid communication links which are malfunctioning.