Importance

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Abstract

A virtual channel converter converts a virtual path identifier and a virtual channel identifier, e.g. in a twenty-eight (28) bit frame, attached to the header part of an incoming ATM cell on an input highway to an ATM switcher to identifiers to be attached to an outgoing ATM cell on an output highway capable of fully supporting all the combinations, two hundred fifty-six (256) for example, of a virtual path identifier and a virtual channel identifier no matter where the virtual path identifier and the virtual channel identifier are located in the twenty-eight (28) bit frame. The virtual channel converter comprises a plurality of identifier comparator units and a controller. Each of the identifier comparator units has an input identifier memory for storing an identifier attached to an ATM cell and a comparator for comparing the identifiers of an incoming ATM cell with the identifiers stored in the input identifier memory. The controller instructs respective input identifier memories to store all the values of identifiers attached to incoming ATM cells from a user to a switcher on a one-to-one basis.

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First Claim