Proxy-controlled ATM subnetwork

A subnetwork using asynchronous transfer mode comprising:

• at least one end station communicating with at least one multi-access bus, said at least one end station and said at least one multi-access bus forming an interconnected mesh;
• a controller connected to said interconnected mesh;
• at least one proxy executing on said controller;
• said proxy determining a virtual circuit in said interconnected mesh for routing data to and between said end stations;
• and
• said at least one end station and said at least one multi-access bus cooperating with one another to receive commands from said proxy.

A method for managing communications in a subnetwork using asynchronous transfer mode comprising the steps of:

• interconnecting at least one end station and at least one switch to form an interconnected mesh;
• presenting data to said interconnected mesh at a point of entry to said interconnected mesh;
• controlling said subnetwork by a proxy connected to said interconnected mesh;
• and
• determining by said proxy a virtual circuit in said interconnected mesh for routing said data to and between said end stations.

A method for managing communications in a subnetwork using asynchronous transfer mode comprising the steps of:

• interconnecting at least one end station and at least one multi-access bus to form an interconnected mesh;
• presenting data to said interconnected mesh at a point of entry to said interconnected mesh;
• controlling said subnetwork by a proxy connected to said interconnected mesh;
• and
• determining by said proxy a virtual circuit in said interconnected mesh for routing said data to and between said end stations.

A method for determining a spanning tree of a network, said network having at least one switch, said switch having a plurality of ports, comprising the steps of:

• sending by each switch a plurality of register commands, one register command being sent on each of said plurality of ports;
• receiving said plurality of register commands by a controller;
• selecting one of said received register commands;
• acknowledging said switch identified by said selected register command comprising the step of:
• sending a acknowledgment message to said switch;
• including said identified switch in said spanning tree of a said network;
• and
• propagating towards said controller by a previously acknowledged switch each register command received by said previously acknowledged switch.

A subnetwork using asynchronous transfer mode comprising:

• at least one end station communicating with at least one switch, said at least one end station and said at least one switch forming an interconnected mesh, with data being presented to said interconnected mesh at a point of entry to said interconnected mesh;
• a controller external to said subnetwork and connected to said interconnected mesh;
• at least one proxy executing on said controller;
• means for determining the topology of said interconnected mesh;
• and
• said proxy determining a virtual circuit in said interconnected mesh for routing said data to and between said end stations by referencing said topology of said interconnected mesh.

A subnetwork using asynchronous transfer mode comprising:

• at least one end station communicating with at least one switch, said at least one end station and said at least one switch forming an interconnected mesh, with input data being presented to said interconnected mesh at a point of entry to said interconnected mesh;
• processor means external to said interconnected mesh and connected to said interconnected mesh;
• means for determining topology of said interconnected mesh;
• said processor means determining a virtual circuit in said interconnected mesh for routing said data to and between said end stations by referencing said topology of said interconnected mesh;
• and
• said processor means appending virtual circuit information to said data prior to routing said data to said interconnected mesh.