Abstract: A method of forming a virtual network includes forming an arrangement of virtual fibers from physical fiber optic cables that interconnect virtual entry devices, virtual forwarding devices, and virtual exit devices together. The virtual entry devices combine data and frames to allow a number of sources with data and frame rates that are less than a predetermined frame rate of a physical port to be output from the physical port.
Abstract: A virtual network includes a virtual entry device, a virtual exit device, and a communication channel that couples the virtual entry device to the virtual exit device in a web that lies between and interconnects a local router/switch with a remote router/switch device, where the virtual entry device and the virtual exit device have static forwarding tables which provide substantially improved performance.
Abstract: A virtual network device increases the effective number of local physical ports by converting each of the local physical ports into a plurality of virtual local physical ports, and the effective number of network physical ports by converting each of the network physical ports into a plurality of virtual network physical ports.
Abstract: A virtual circuit in a network device reformats one or more incoming data streams at a non-predetermined data rate into one or more outgoing data streams at a predetermined data rate, thereby allowing multiple data streams with non-predetermined data rates that are less than the predetermined data rate to be combined and output from a single network port, and a single data stream with a non-predetermined data rate that is greater than the predetermined data rate to be split and output from two or more network ports.