Nortel Networks Corporation

Roger Smith

Simon Daniel Brueckheimer

Fai Tsang

To obviate inefficient use of bandwidth in a packetised system, such as a broadband ATM domain, the use or amount of header information sent in relation to a channel is restricted by one of two principal mechanisms, as exemplified in FIGS. and . First, control information incident to a packet interface ( ) is interrogated by a processor ( ) to determine ( ) packet length requirements. A packet length indicator is then generated ( ) for inclusion within a header ( ) of a packet. Alternatively, a frame ( ) is pre-partitioned ( ) into several packets ( ) having different lengths. An addressed subscriber unit ( ) is allocated ( ) a particular channel, i.e. at least one particular packet within the frame ( ), based on data throughput requirements ( ), whereby the location of the packet within the frame inherently identifies the length of the packet. Optionally, the data rate used within that packet may also be identified inherently by the location of the packet within the frame ( ).

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Billericay, United Kingdom

Roger Smith