Importance

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Abstract

A system for transferring variable length cells in an ATM, wherein an ATM layer composes variable length ATM cells by an n-octet header and an ATM cell payload of a length of a whole multiple m (m.gtoreq.1) of the minimum unit of transfer, using as a minimum unit of transfer a length of n (8.gtoreq.n.gtoreq.6) octets, stores in the payload the information generated from a higher layer adjusted to a length of a whole multiple of the minimum unit of transfer, and sets in the header data indicating the length of the variable length cell. The adjustment is performed by a higher ATM adaptation layer which adds ineffective data to the SAR-protocol data unit (SAR-PDU) including the header and trailer so the SAR-PDU becomes a whole multiple of the n-octets. A region provided in the trailer of the SAR-PDU in the layer to indicate the length of the effective data in the payload is set with the number of octets remaining after division of the number of octets of the effective data in the payload by 44. By this, it is possible to make efficient use of transmission channels by maintaining the user information, generated in bursts of information, at a constant, optimal length.

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First Claim