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: A communication system for transmitting a fixed-length cell converted from a variable-length information including data and a destination of the data. The system includes a cell assembly/disassembly device for performing bi-directional conversion between the variable-length information and the fixed-length cell, a routing control device for receiving the fixed-length cell converted from the variable-length information by the cell assembly/disassembly device, for analyzing the destination of the data and for controlling a routing of the fixed-length cell based on the analyzed destination, and having an error detecting device for detecting an error of the variable-length information in the fixed-length cell, and a network for connecting the cell assembly/disassembly device and the routing control device by a fixed capacity path and for connecting the routing control device to another routing control device by the fixed capacity path or a variable capacity path.

Abstract: A distribution network that has very low internal blocking, similar to that found in large N.times.N single crossbar networks, but without the complexity and cost of such a network. Further, this distribution network has only one stage to simplify and speed up the ability to find a path through the network to fulfill each request. The distribution network is a fabric of small crossbar switches which are organized into a plurality of pipes. Each of the pipes provides a path that could fulfill any request assuming that path is not currently busy. Sophisticated statistics are used to reduce the possibility of internal block to a very low level. The single stage of pipes simplifies the hunt for a path through the distribution network to a hunt for a pipe having the required path that is empty or idle. Because of the single stage and the simplified path hunting, a fabric of switches may be built that has a throughput of over one terabit per second.

Abstract: ATM network comprises an ATM cross connect network for connecting local switches to each other, and a signalling network including a plurality of transit switches each having a bandwidth management function to manage the bandwidth allocation of a prescribed link in the ATM cross connect network. By transmitting the control signal from an originating local switch to a destination through successive transit switches of the signalling network, a required bandwidth is allocated to a virtual channel of the ATM cross connect network. ATM cells are transmitted between the two local switches through the established virtual channel.