Abstract: To set up a connection in a communication network comprising a multiplicity of network nodes connected via links, a setup message is transmitted from an originating network node to a destination network node. In this process, a route-specific forwarding information item included in the setup message is read out in a network node receiving a setup message, by means of which information item the setup message is forwarded via a link allocated to this route-specific forwarding information item in this network node.

Abstract: A method for distributing a data traffic load on a communication network with an extensive range of network nodes connected via a link line. The method includes ascertaining a current data transfer loading value for the link line or a network node using a data traffic monitoring system, determining and sending distribution information for the network node based on the current data transfer loading value using the data traffic monitoring system, generating an allocation model used to divide an address information of data packets into separate address classes assigned to alternative routes leading to a destination network node using the network node wherein each based on the distribution information, and ascertaining the address class from the address information and sending the data packets via one of the alternative routes assigned to the address class ascertained when the network node has received the data packet addressed to the destination network node.

Abstract: A first routing statement is produced in the source network node for a data packet to be transmitted (from a source network node to several destinations) based on several routing statements provided for different routing methods. The first routing statement contains branch information for branches in the route and, for each route branch in a branch, partial routing information specifying the route branch. The first routing statement also contains a cross-reference to a further routing statement. A network node involved in the transmission of the data packet is initiated by branching information (contained in a routing statement) to relay the received data packet to several network nodes denoted by the respective partial routing information. When a cross-reference to another routing statement is present, the network node initiates evaluation of the routing statement denoted by the cross-reference, and relays the received data packet to network nodes.

Abstract: A multicast transmission method and a multicast transmission system which, with nodes in a network, form one or more double-direction rings, to which a transmitter and at least some receivers are coupled.

Abstract: Switching nodes of a communications network are assigned subnetworks and are interconnected to one another in any desired fashion. Stored in a source switching node is at least topology information on the node's own subnetwork and on the interconnection of the subnetworks. In addition, the source switching node is provided with the communications conditions which are required for the communications link to be set up. By reference to the topology information, a subset of switching nodes and connecting lines which satisfies the communications conditions is selected and a route to the destination switching node is determined. Included in this process is a route which, in the direction from the source switching node to the destination switching node, leaves at least one subnetwork once and returns to the subnetwork again in the further course of the route. The routing information is then formed from the route which has been determined.

Abstract: A method for distributing the data-traffic load on a communication network, and a communication network for implementing this method.

Abstract: A first routing statement is produced in the source network node for a data packet which is to be transmitted from a source network node to a plurality of destinations, i.e., destination network nodes and/or destination terminals, on the basis of a number of routing statements provided for different routing methods. The first routing statement in each case contains branch information for branches in the route and, for each route branch in a branch, partial routing information which specifies this route branch. Furthermore, the first routing statement contains a cross-reference to a further routing statement. A network node which is involved in the transmission of the data packet is initiated by branching information, which is contained in a routing statement, to relay the received data packet to a number of network nodes which are denoted by respective partial routing information.

Abstract: For the connection setup between output switching nodes and a target switching node of an ATM communication network consisting of subnetworks, a best route, as well as the relevant routing information, is determined such that alternate routes are also taken into account. The alternate routes are thereby loops via one or several further subnetworks to a not-yet-passed reentry node of the already-passed subnetwork. The method is particularly suited for ATM communication networks whose signaling takes place according to the PNNI protocol.

Abstract: Integration of ATM switching nodes that have been placed in operation but are not yet addressable in ATM-signaling conforming fashion into an ATM communication network is achieved by communicating configuration messages to an ATM switching node which is a neighbor of the ATM switching node to be configured and forwarding from this neighbor to the ATM switching node to be configured. The property of an ATM switching node placed in operation is exploited such that, even if it does not yet have its own ATM address, it can receive data packets from a neighbor ATM switching node. The configuration messages are thus communicated via the ATM communication network itself to the ATM switching node to be configured.

Abstract: A virtual connection (V) is pre-set from an originating to a destination ATM communication terminal equipment (KE(1),KE(2)) in an ATM communication network (KN) such that administration and maintenance cells (oam) can pass the preset connection (V). An administration and maintenance cell (oam1) is subsequently transmitted from the destination to the originating ATM communication terminal equipment (KE(2),KE(1)). An administration and maintenance and a through-connect information (oam3,di) inserted into the administration and maintenance cell (oam1) effect an immediate through-connect of the pre-set virtual connection (V) in the ATM communication systems (KS1,2) involved in the virtual connection (V). Alternatively, a known method for setting up and clearing down virtual connections can be incorporated into the method.

Abstract: In the initial analysis or forming of a signalling message (sm) having a message header (MK) and information elements (IE) appended thereto (for example according to CCITT recommendation Q.93B), the signalling message (sm) is buffer-stored in a buffer store ZSP to information items (ti, ki) defining the information element type and the initial addresses (sia, csia) of the information element-specific information items stored in the buffer store ZSP are entered using of an address generation routine (AGR) into an auxiliary address store (HAS). An indicative information item (hi) is transmitted to the further processing routines (WR), indicating the existence of an auxiliary address store (HAS). The buffer-stored information items (ti, csi, si) of the signalling message (sm') can be retrieved using a retrieve routine (ABR) and the auxiliary address store (HAS) by the further processing routines (WR).

Abstract: The method provides for routing traffic relations (vb) in a communication network (KN) having arbitrary topology with n network nodes (NK) and m trunks (VL). The switching of traffic relations (vb) from network node (NK) to network node (NK) via one through maximally r optimum routes (R) can ensue paritized, prioritizing or in arbitrary mixtures. This is effected by routing information (ri) formed network node-associated and traffic relation-associated and by random numbers formed in the framework of the setup of traffic relations (vb) via which the traffic relations (vb) are statistically distributed over the one through maximally r routes (R) of a traffic relation (vb) via the affected network nodes (NK).

Abstract: A method for multi-addressed transmission of cells in a switching structure of a communication system operating in the asynchronous transfer mode. Instead of internal routing information (ri) for non-multi-addressed cells (Z), row index information (zi) and multi-addressing information (rsi) are inserted into an internal cell header (IKZ) of the communication system of multi-addressed cells (RZ). After the reception of a multi-addressed cell (RZ) in a switching element (KE) of the switching structure, a prescribed row (Z1 . . .Zn) of a multi-addressing matrix (RSM), that is provided with routing information (kri) that is individually associated to switching elements, is identified with the assistance of the row index information (ZI). The switching paths of the multi-addressed cell (RZ) in the respective switching element (KE) are defined by the routing information (kri) individually associated to the switching elements.

Abstract: Method for multi-address transmission of cells in a communication network operating in-the asynchronous transfer mode. The method relates to a communication system (KA) of a communication network (KN) or to a switching structure (SN) of a communication system. Given multi-addressed cells to be transmitted by the communication network (KN) or the switching structure (SN), multi-addressing. information (rsi) that is specifically associated to a switching stage or to a communication system is formed for every additional switching path in each of the communication systems (KA) or switching stages (ST). Further routing information (ri) attached thereto is formed and additionally inserted into a cell header (ZK) or into an internal cell header (IZK) of the communication system. The cells are transmitted multi-addressed in the communication network (KN) or the switching structure (SN) using this cell header (ZK) or internal cell header (IZK) of the communication system that precedes the respective cell.