ATM cell interface and method for dispatching an ATM cell

A method for dispatching an ATM cell comprising the steps of:

• producing the ATM cell at a first computer which executes instructions for applications other than communications between computers;
• transmitting the ATM cell from the first computer through an ATM network portion to which the first computer is connected;
• receiving the ATM cell at an ATM cell interface which is connected to the ATM network portion;
• routing the ATM cell with the ATM cell interface to an Ethernet connected to the ATM cell interface;
• and
• transmitting the ATM cell from the ATM cell interface through the Ethernet to a second computer which executes instructions for applications other than communications between computers.

A communication network comprising:

• an ATM network portion;
• an ATM cell interface in communication with the ATM network portion;
• a first general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion;
• a second general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion, said first computer and second computer each execute instructions for applications other than communications between computers;
• and
• an FDDI connected to the ATM cell interface and in communication with the ATM network portion through the ATM cell interface.

A communication network comprising:

• an ATM network portion;
• an ATM cell interface in communication with the ATM network portion, said ATM cell interface having a first switch and a second switch in communication with the first switch through the ATM network portion such that an ATM cell can be transmitted between the first switch and the second switch at 155 mb/s;
• a first general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion;
• and
• a second general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion, said first computer and second computer each execute instructions for applications other than communications between computers.

A communication network comprising:

• an ATM network portion;
• an ATM cell interface in communication with the ATM network portion, said ATM cell interface having a first switch and a second switch in communication with the first switch through the ATM network portion such that an ATM cell can be transmitted between the first switch and the second switch at 622 mb/s;
• a first general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion;
• and
• a second general purpose computer connected to the ATM network potion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion, said first computer and second computer each execute instructions for applications other than communications between computers.

A communication network comprising:

• an ATM network portion;
• an ATM cell interface in communication with the ATM network portion;
• a first general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion;
• a second general purpose computer connected to the ATM network portion and in communication with the ATM cell interface through the ATM network portion, said first computer and second computer each execute instructions for applications other than communications between computers;
• and
• a Sonet OC-3 connected to the ATM cell interface and in communication with the ATM network portion through the ATM cell interface.

A method for dispatching an ATM cell comprising the steps of:

• producing the ATM cell at a first computer which executes instructions for applications other than communications between computers;
• transmitting the ATM cell from the first computer through an ATM network portion to which the first computer is connected at 155 mb/s;
• receiving the ATM cell at an ATM cell interface which is connected to the ATM network portion;
• and
• transmitting the ATM cell from the ATM cell interface at 155 mb/s to a second computer which executes instructions for applications other than communications between computers.