Method and apparatus for caching switched virtual circuits in an ATM network

Apparatus for rapidly establishing a communications connection through an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, comprising at least one machine programmed to perform the functions of:

• a) a switched virtual circuit connection (SVC) control agent which is responsible for SVC setup and release at an ingress/egress point in the ATM network;
• b) an SVC caching manager that maintains SVC cache tables in which a record of each cached SVC is stored;
• and
• c) an SVC selector that processes operation requests from a communications application that seeks to establish a connection through the ATM network, the SVC selector selects an available cached SVC from the SVC cache tables when an available cached SVC exists, and requests the SVC control agent to establish a new SVC through the ATM network if an available cached SVC does not exist, when a process operation request is received from the communications application.

A computer readable memory containing executable instructions for performing the functions of:

• a) a switched virtual circuit connection (SVC) control agent which is responsible for SVC setup and release at an ingress/egress point in an ATM network;
• b) an SVC caching manager that maintains SVC cache tables in which a record of each cached SVC is stored;
• and
• c) an SVC selector that processes operation requests from a communications application that seeks to establish a communications connection through the ATM network, the SVC selector selecting an available cached SVC from the SVC cache tables if an available cached SVC exists, and requesting the SVC control agent to establish a new SVC through the network if an available cached SVC does not exist, when a process operation request is received from the communications application.

A method of rapidly establishing a cross-connection through an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch, comprising the steps of:

• a) setting up at least one cross-connection (XC) between an ingress port and an egress port in the ATM switch;
• b) caching the at least one XC for use by the ingress port when a request for a cross-connection through the ATM switch is received;
• c) selecting a one of the at least one cached XCs when the request for a cross-connection through the ATM switch is received;
• d) using the selected XC to rapidly establish the cross-connection trough the ATM switch;
• and
• e) when the communications connection is released, executing a caching algorithm at the ATM switch to determine whether the XC should be cached or released.

Apparatus for rapidly establishing a cross-connection through an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switch, comprising an ATM switch control element programmed to perform the functions of:

• a) a cross-connect (XC) control agent that is responsible for XC set up and release in the ATM switch;
• b) a cross-connect caching manager that maintains an XC cache table in which a record of each cached XC is stored;
• and
• c) a cross-connect selector that processes operation requests for establishing an XC through the ATM switch, or releasing an XC that is no longer required, the cross-connect selector selecting an available cached XC from the XC cache table if an available cached XC exists, and requesting the cross-connect control agent to establish a new XC through the switch if an available cached XC does not exist, when a process operation request is received.

A computer readable memory containing executable instructions for performing the functions of:

• a) setting up at least one cross-connection (XC) between an ingress port and an egress port in the ATM switch;
• b) caching the at least one XC for use by the ingress port when a request for a communications connection through the ATM switch is received;
• c) selecting a one of the at least one cached XCs when the request for a cross-connection through the AIM switch is received;
• d) using the selected XC to rapidly establish the cross-connection through the ATM switch;
• and
• e) when the communications connection is released, executing an XC caching algorithm to determine whether the XC should be cached or released.

A computer readable memory containing executable instructions for performing the functions of:

• a) a cross-connect (XC) control agent that is responsible for XC set up and release in the ATM switch;
• b) a cross-connect caching manager that maintains an XC cache table in which a record of each cached XC is stored;
• and
• c) a cross-connect selector that processes operation requests for establishing an XC through the ATM switch, or releasing an XC that is no longer required, the cross-connect selector selecting an available cached XC from the XC cache table if an available XC exists, and retesting the cross-connect control agent to establish a new XC through the switch if an available XC does not exist, when a process operation request is received.