Routing device utilizing an ATM switch as a multi-channel backplane in a communication network

A hub for providing communication between devices in a communication network, said hub comprising:

• (a) a first local area network front-end module comprising at least a first front-end port and a second front-end port, said first front-end port for supporting communication with devices coupled with a first local area network segment, said second front-end port for supporting communication with devices coupled with a second local area network segment;
• (b) a second local area network front-end module comprising at least a third front-end port and a fourth front-end port, said third front-end port for supporting communication with devices coupled with a third local area network segment, said fourth front-end port for supporting communication with devices coupled with a fourth local area network segment;
• (c) a third local area network front-end module comprising at least a fifth front-end port and a sixth front-end port, said fifth front-end port for supporting communication with devices coupled with a fifth local area network segment, said sixth front-end port for supporting communication with devices coupled with a sixth local area network segment;
• (d) an ATM switch module having a first ATM port for communicating with said first local area network module, a second ATM port for communicating with said second local area network module and a third ATM port for communicating with said third local area network module, said ATM switch providing for routing of information between said devices coupled with said first, second and third local area network modules, said ATM switch module configured to provide a fully connected topology of module-to-module connections between said first local area network module, said second local area network module and said third local area network module.

A method of providing for routing of a variable length information packet in a local area network, said local area network comprising at least a first device coupled with a first local area network segment and a second device coupled with a second local area network segment, said first local area network segment coupled with a first local area network module, said second local area network segment coupled with a second local area network module, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) said first device communicating said variable length information packet to said first local area network module over said first local area network segment;
• (b) said first local area network module receiving said variable length information packet;
• (c) said first local area network module providing said variable length information packet to a first port of a connection oriented router;
• (d) said router segmenting said variable length information packet into a plurality of fixed length cells;
• (e) said router routing said fixed length cells to a second port of said router;
• (f) said router reassembling said plurality of fixed length cells into said variable length information packet;
• (g) said router providing said variable length information packet to said second local area network module;
• (h) said local area network module providing said variable length information to said second device on said second local area network segment.