Abstract: The invention relates to a communication system which operates in the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and which comprises several nodes which form a network and are partly coupled to one another and to terminals, and which each comprise a switch and a control software at least for controlling the relevant coupling field and for the signaling. At least one object of the control software contains detection points in certain states. An object for event handling of the control software is provided for further processing when a detection point is reached. The object for event handling receives data via a special channel from at least one terminal or from another node.

Abstract: A coupling device (switch) for a local network operating in the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) which comprises a central cell memory (CCM) for buffer storage of packets (frames) formed by individual ATM cells and arriving on feed lines, a central memory control device for controlling the storage in the central cell memory (CCM) and the writing and reading processes of the packets into and from the central cell memory (CCM). The control device includes a counting circuit for counting the ATM cells arriving in the central cell memory (CCM) and a discarding circuit for discarding ATM cells packet by packet for preventing a congestion in the central cell memory (CCM).

Abstract: The invention relates to a local area network comprising at least a ring system which includes a plurality of network nodes coupled via ring connections, which nodes are used for coupling to a station or a network node of another ring system and for switching packets generated by a station or a network node. Switching software is provided distributed over all the network nodes and stations and at least sufficient for the switching operations. The distributed switching software renders an object available for each respective application, which object is combined to a respective component of object framework software for object registration and routing the messages to and from the object. The distributed switching software in each network node and each station is represented as a distribution plane entity which is used for transmitting and controlling the messages between objects in a station or a network node and another distribution plane entity.