Abstract: The present invention provides a method (100) for virtual path switching of an ATM cell on a processing communications satellite. The method includes establishing a set of VPIs (104) associated with output ports on the satellite and assigning one VPI to an ATM cell (108). The ATM cell may then be received by an input port of the satellite (110). An associated output port (114) for the ATM cell is determined from the VPI, and the ATM cell is transferred to that output port (116). The present invention may also provide for multicast switching (400). The VPI assigned to the ATM cell may be associated with a multicast output port. The ATM cells may be reproduced (426) and reassigned with a new VPI from a multicast group of VPIs (428). The reproduced cells are received at an input port of the satellite (430) for routing to the corresponding output ports.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating fixed-length data packets through an intermediate computer network. The method comprises receiving a data packet characterized by a fixed-length packet format, and constructing a remnant packet characterized by the fixed-length packet format, which includes inserting at least a portion of the data packet routing information in the data field of the remnant packet. The method also comprises communicating the remnant packet, receiving the remnant packet and constructing a reconstructed data packet, which includes Inserting data packet routing information obtained from the remnant packet in the address field of the reconstructed packet. The apparatus comprises a communication network node comprising a receiver, transmitter, computer memory and processor for performing the foregoing method steps.

Abstract: A method (400, 700) and apparatus (500, 700) for communicating fixed-length data packets through an intermediate computer network. The method (400) comprises receiving a data packet characterized by a fixed-length packet format. The method (400) comprises constructing (435) a remnant packet characterized by the fixed-length packet format, which includes inserting (455) at least a portion of the data packet routing information in the data field of the remnant packet. The method (400, 700) also comprises communicating (470, 710) the remnant packet. The method (700) comprises receiving (710) the remnant packet and constructing (755) a reconstructed data packet, which includes inserting (765) data packet routing information obtained from the remnant packet, in the address field of the reconstructed packet. The apparatus (500, 800) comprises a communication network node (500) comprising a receiver (510), transmitter (520), computer memory (540) and processor (530).

Abstract: The present invention relates to distributed ATM switches for use within an ATM network including processing satellite links. The functionality of the distributed ATM switch is preferably performed at three distinct locations. The first location is at a user earth terminal configured to perform at least one user plane function. The second location is at a network operations center configured to perform at least one control plane function. Finally, the remaining ATM switch functionality is performed within the payload of a processing satellite.