Telecommunications network and a packet header therefor

A packet header for a data packet according to any preceding claim wherein the header includes a length field for containing a quantity representing the number of local node identifiers contained within the routing information field.

A packet header for a data packet according to any preceding claim wherein each item of local node identifier data is stored in the routing information field with additional data attached thereto to indicate the length of the local node identifying data item.

A method of transporting a data packet via at least one node of a network wherein the method includes the steps of;

• providing a packet header for the data packet;
• providing routing information in the header which routing information contains local node identifier data which identifies a neighbouring node of the at least one node through which the data packet is intended to be transported;
• transporting the headed data packet via the at least one node of a network in accordance with the routing information such that the at least one node of the network transports the data packet to the neighbouring node identified by the local node identifier data.

A method of transporting a data packet according to claim 9 wherein, at a current node and prior to transmission therefrom, the method further includes the step of;

• modifying the routing information by replacing the local node identifier data associated with the current node with local node identifier data identifying the previous node from which the data packet was received at the current node.