초록 ▼

The invention provides a method and apparatus for communicating to a destination node over a broadband network from plural users connected to an access node. A virtual circuit is provisioned through the broadband network for connecting the access node to the destination node. Data units are received

The invention provides a method and apparatus for communicating to a destination node over a broadband network from plural users connected to an access node. A virtual circuit is provisioned through the broadband network for connecting the access node to the destination node. Data units are received from plural users at the access node, with each data unit having plural cells. The data units are multiplexed onto the virtual circuit at the access node such that the cells of any one data unit are noninterleaving with the cells of any other data unit on the virtual circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the destination node is a service provider node in an ATM network and the data units are Ethernet protocol data units that comprise plural ATM cells. According to another aspect, an access node for communicating to a service provider node over an ATM network includes at least one line unit for transmitting Ethernet protocol data units to and from plural users, each Ethernet protocol data unit comprising plural ATM cells, the line unit coupling the ATM cells to and from a communication bus. A trunk unit coupled to the communication bus transmits and receives ATM cells to and from the ATM network.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of communicating to first service provider nodes over an ATM network from plural users connected to an access node, the method comprising the steps of:provisioning a first virtual circuit through the ATM network for connecting a first access node to the first service provider node; recei

1. A method of communicating to first service provider nodes over an ATM network from plural users connected to an access node, the method comprising the steps of:provisioning a first virtual circuit through the ATM network for connecting a first access node to the first service provider node; receiving first protocol data units intended for the first service provider node from plural users at the access node, the first protocol data units comprising plural ATM cells; and multiplexing the first protocol data units onto the first virtual circuit at the first access node such that the ATM cells of the first protocol data units are noninterleaving with the ATM cells of any other of the first protocol data units on the first virtual circuit and provisioning a second virtual circuit through the ATM network for connecting the access node to a second service provider node and wherein the step of receiving includes receiving second protocol data units intended for the second service provider node, each comprising plural ATM cells and wherein the step of multiplexing includes multiplexing the second protocol data units onto the second virtual circuit such that the ATM cells of any one of the second protocol data units are nonintcrleaving with the ATM cells of any other of the second protocol data units on the second virtual circuit.