ATM VLAN multi-protocol client-server system using layer-3 header of packets for transporting connectionless and connection-oriented traffic

Claim 2

A communication method for an ATM network which is formed by a plurality of logical subnetworks to each of which a server and at least one client are connected, the server having means for resolving an ATM address of a destination client using a layer- 3 address of a message from a source client, and means for routing a packet according to a layer- 3 address of the packet, the method comprising the steps of: a) examining, at said source client, a layer- 3 header of a packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic; b) if the packet has a connectionless traffic, transmitting the packet from said source client to said server for causing the server to route the packet through the network; c) if the packet has a connection-oriented traffic, transmitting a request message from said source client to said server for causing the server to resolve an ATM address of a destination client and return a reply message containing the resolved ATM address; and d) receiving the reply message at the source client and transmitting therefrom a signaling message containing the resolved ATM address to the network to establish a connection, and subsequently transmitting data packets over the established connection.

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 , wherein said packet is an IPv6 protocol packet and the step (a) examines a priority field of the packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 , wherein said server is arranged to resolve said ATM address and return said reply message according to a next hop resolution protocol (NHRP).

Claim 5

An ATM network comprising: a plurality of logical subnetworks, each of the logical subnetworks comprising a server and at least one client, said server having means for resolving ATM addresses of destination clients from a layer- 3 address of an ATM address resolution request message from a source client and means for routing a packet to a server of another subnetwork by using a layer- 3 address of the packet, said source client examining a layer- 3 header of a packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic, (a) transmitting, if the packet has a connectionless traffic, the packet to said server for causing the server to route the packet through the network, and (b) transmitting, if the packet has a connection-oriented traffic, an ATM address resolution request message to said server, receiving a reply message therefrom containing a resolved ATM address, transmitting a signaling message containing the resolved ATM address to the network to establish a connection and transmitting data packets over the established connection.

Claim 6

An ATM network comprising: a plurality of logical subnetworks, each of the logical subnetworks comprising a server and at least one client, said server having means for resolving ATM addresses of destination clients from a layer- 3 address of an ATM address resolution request message from a source client and means for routing a packet to a server of another subnetwork by using a layer- 3 address of the packet, said source client examining a layer- 3 header of a packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic, (a) transmitting, if the packet has a connectionless traffic, the packet to said server for causing the server to route the packet through the network, and (b) transmitting, if the packet has a connection-oriented traffic, an ATM address resolution request message to said server, receiving a reply message therefrom containing a resolved ATM address, transmitting a signaling message containing the resolved ATM address to the network to establish a connection and transmitting data packets over the established connection.

Claim 7

An ATM network as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said packet is an IPv6 protocol packet and wherein said source client is arranged to examine a priority field of the packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic.

Claim 8

An ATM network as claimed in claim 4 , wherein said server is arranged to resolve said ATM address and return said reply message according to a next hop resolution protocol (NHRP).

Claim 9

A communication method for an ATM network which is formed by a plurality of logical subnetworks to each of which a server and at least one client are connected, the server having means for resolving an ATM address of a destination client using a layer- 3 address of a message from a source client, and means for routing a packet according to a layer- 3 address of the packet, the method comprising the steps of: a) examining, at said source client, a port number in a layer- 4 header of a packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic; b) if the packet has a connectionless traffic, transmitting the packet from said source client to said server for causing the server to route the packet through the network; c) if the packet has a connection-oriented traffic, transmitting a request message from said source client to said server for causing the server to resolve an ATM address of a destination client and return a reply message containing the resolved ATM address; and d) receiving the reply message at the source client and transmitting therefrom a signaling message containing the resolved ATM address to the network to establish a connection, and subsequently transmitting data packets over the established connection.

Claim 10

A communication method for an ATM network which is formed by a plurality of logical subnetworks to each of which a server and at least one client are connected, the server having means for resolving an ATM address of a destination client using a layer- 3 address of a message from a source client, and means for routing a packet according to a layer- 3 address of the packet, the method comprising the steps of: a) examining, at said source client, a port number in a layer- 4 header of a packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic; b) if the packet has a connectionless traffic, transmitting the packet from said source client to said server for causing the server to route the packet through the network; c) if the packet has a connection-oriented traffic, transmitting a request message from said source client to said server for causing the server to resolve an ATM address of a destination client and return a reply message containing the resolved ATM address; and d) receiving the reply message at the source client and transmitting therefrom a signaling message containing the resolved ATM address to the network to establish a connection, and subsequently transmitting data packets over the established connection.

Claim 11

An ATM network comprising: a plurality of logical subnetworks, each of the logical subnetworks comprising a server and at least one client; said server having means for resolving ATM addresses of destination clients from a layer- 3 address of an ATM address resolution request message from a source client and means for routing a packet to a server of another subnetwork by using a layer- 3 address of the packet; said source client examining a port number in a layer- 4 header of a packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic; and when the packet has a connectionless traffic, said source client transmitting the packet to said server for causing the server to route the packet through the network, and when the packet has a connection-oriented traffic, said source client: transmitting an ATM address resolution request message to said server, receiving a reply message therefrom containing a resolved ATM address, and transmitting a signaling message containing the resolved ATM address to the network to establish a connection and transmitting data packets over the established connection.

Claim 12

An ATM network comprising: a plurality of logical subnetworks, each of the logical subnetworks comprising a server and at least one client; said server having means for resolving ATM addresses of destination clients from a layer- 3 address of an ATM address resolution request message from a source client and means for routing a packet to a server of another subnetwork by using a layer- 3 address of the packet; said source client examining a port number in a layer- 4 header of a packet to determine whether the packet has a connection-oriented traffic or a connectionless traffic; and when the packet has a connectionless traffic, said source client transmitting the packet to said server for causing the server to route the packet through the network, and when the packet has a connection-oriented traffic, said source client: transmitting an ATM address resolution request message to said server, receiving a reply message therefrom containing a resolved ATM address, and transmitting a signaling message containing the resolved ATM address to the network to establish a connection and transmitting data packets over the established connection.

Claim 13

A communication method for a source client in an ATM network, comprising: receiving a packet at said source client; determining a traffic type of said packet by examining a header of said packet, wherein said traffic type is one of a connectionless traffic type and a connection-oriented traffic type; when said traffic type of said packet is said connectionless traffic type, transmitting said packet from said source client to a server so as to cause said server to route said packet through said network; and when said traffic type of said packet is said connection-oriented traffic type: transmitting a request message from said source client to said server, said request message indicating a destination client, receiving a reply message containing a resolved ATM address relating to said destination client, transmitting from said source client a signaling message containing said resolved ATM address to establish a connection, and transmitting subsequent data packets over said connection.

Claim 14

A communication method for a source client in an ATM network, comprising: receiving a packet at said source client; determining a traffic type of said packet by examining a header of said packet, wherein said traffic type is one of a connectionless traffic type and a connection-oriented traffic type; when said traffic type of said packet is said connectionless traffic type, transmitting said packet from said source client to a server so as to cause said server to route said packet through said network; and when said traffic type of said packet is said connection-oriented traffic type: transmitting a request message from said source client to said server, said request message indicating a destination client, receiving a reply message containing a resolved ATM address relating to said destination client, transmitting from said source client a signaling message containing said resolved ATM address to establish a connection, and transmitting subsequent data packets over said connection.

Claim 15

The communication method for a source client in an ATM network as set forth in claim 9 , wherein: said packet has a packet format according to IPv4, said packet has a layer- 4 packet header, and said determination of said traffic type of said packet is based on a port number in said layer- 4 packet header of said packet.

Claim 16

The communication method for a source client in an ATM network as set forth in claim 9 , wherein: said packet has a packet format according to IPv6, said packet has a layer- 3 packet header, and said determination of said traffic type of said packet is based on a priority field in said layer- 3 packet header of said packet.