Abstract: The present inventions pertains to a communication network. The communication network comprises an ATM network. The communication network also comprises at least two general purpose computers. Each computer has a processor, a memory in communication with the processor, and an input/output bus in communication with the processor, memory and the ATM network. The N computers communicate with each other through the ATM network and operate instructions for applications other than communications between the other computers.

Abstract: A communication network. The communication network has an ATM network portion. The communication network has an ATM cell interface in communication with the ATM network portion. The communication network also has a first general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion. The communication network has a second general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion. The first computer and second computer each execute instructions for applications other than communications between computers. The computers can communicate at 155 mb/s or 622 mb/s. The ATM cell interface can be connected to an Ethernet, or a Sonet OC-3 or an FDDI. There is a method for dispatching an ATM cell.

Abstract: An ATM cell interface for dispatching an ATM cell having a header. The interface is comprised of N input ports, where N.gtoreq.1 and is an integer. The cell is also comprised of a table lookup mechanism that directs a cell from an input port to any desired destination. The table lookup mechanism has entries which identify desired destination for corresponding cells. The number of possible entries in the table lookup mechanism is less than a total number of entries supported by the ATM cell header. Preferably, a cell includes a VCI field having a value and a VPI field having a value. The table lookup mechanism preferably includes a first table which produces a first signal based on the value of the VPI field and a second level table which produces a second signal based on the value of the VCI field. The first and second signals are used to route the cell from an input port to a desired destination. Additionally, there is a method for dispatching an ATM cell.

Abstract: An ATM cell interface for dispatching an ATM cell comprising N input ports, where N.gtoreq.1 and is an integer. A table lookup mechanism directs a cell from an input port to any desired destination. The table lookup mechanism has entries which identify desired destination for corresponding cells. The number of possible entries in the table lookup mechanism is less than a total number of entries supported by the ATM cell header. The table lookup mechanism preferably includes a first table which produces a first signal based on the value of the VPI field and a second level table which produces a second signal based on the value of the VCI field. The first and second signals are used to route the cell from an input port to a desired destination. A method for dispatching an ATM cell comprising the steps of locating a table entry in a first level table corresponding to a value of a VPI field of the cell. Then there is the step of producing a first signal corresponding to the table entry.