The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 06, 1997
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1995
Lisa Conoscenti, Laurel, MD (US);
Kathy Daley, Manassas, VA (US);
Henry Trogden, Fords, NJ (US);
Carmen Hossain, Olney, MD (US);
Amos Lucas, Dundalk, MD (US);
Bell Atlantic Network Services, Inc., Arlington, VA (US);
Abstract
In a network utilizing asynchronous transport mode (ATM) transport and/or switching, the VPI/VCI values have meaning beyond the boundaries of each individual ATM processing element. At the very least, the VPI represents a source identifier related to the provider of the particular program or service carried through the cell stream. The VPI value is maintained constant throughout the network, without translation thereof by any ATM processing element. In the preferred embodiments, the VCI also is maintained constant and serves to identify a particular service or session. For example, for each broadcast service the VCI represents a channel identifier of the program offered by the service provider identified by the associated VPI value. For an interactive session, a VCI value is assigned to the session with a particular subscriber terminal on a dynamic basis. The VCI value for such a session remains valid throughout the network for the duration of that session, without translation or reassignment. The network administration systems rely on the VPI/VCI identification rules to operate and maintain the network and to accumulate various network usage statistics.