Importance

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Abstract

Described herein is an ATM switch having a plurality of switch ports for connection to a public ATM network and to a plurality of data handlers. Each data handler is configured to supply respective portions of a continuous data stream to a requesting end-point device through the public ATM network. To request a particular continuous data stream, an end-point device sends a request to a controller associated with the data handlers, rather to each of the individual data handlers. The controller in the preferred embodiment is a dedicated computer, although it is also possible to designate one of the data handlers to perform the functions of the controller. In response to receiving a request from an end-point device, the controller establishes a multipoint-to-point virtual connection between the end-point device and the data handlers which will supply portions of the requested continuous data stream. The switch port selected to establish the virtual connection with the end-point device is configured as the user side of a standard ATM user-to-network interface (UNI), and its ATM address is used as the calling party address in establishing the virtual connection with the end-point device. Once the connections are established, the data handlers begin supplying their data portions. The ATM switch merges these data portions into a single data stream and supplies it to the requesting end-point device through the single virtual connection between the ATM switch and the end-point device.

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First Claim