Virtual path concentrator node with loopback

A method of reducing connection count between gateway nodes of first and second networks communicating across a network to network interface, comprising the steps of:

• designating a first network concentrator node between multiple first network access nodes and the first network gateway node;
• designating a second network concentrator node between multiple second network access nodes and the second network gateway node;
• assigning a global address to each concentrator node, each global address having significance across multiple nodes of the networks and usable for routing without modification thereof;
• concentrating virtual circuit traffic between access nodes and concentrator nodes to virtual path traffic by switching data frames having a common global address on a single virtual path connection;
• and
• managing traffic via a permanent virtual circuit control loop and a virtual path control loop between at least one of the concentrator nodes and the network to network interface.

An interworked network comprising:

• a first network comprising:
• first network access nodes,
• a first network gateway node, and
• a first network concentrator node coupled between the first network access nodes and the first network gateway node;
• and
• a second network comprising:
• second network access nodes,
• a second network gateway node coupled to the first network gateway node via a network to network interface, and
• a second network concentrator node coupled between the second network access nodes and the second network gateway node,
• each concentrator node having a global address with significance across multiple paths within the first and second networks, the global address being recognized by multiple nodes within both networks and usable for routing without modification thereof,
• multiple virtual circuits being established between the first network access nodes and the first network concentrator node,
• the first network concentrator node being configured to switch data frames received on the multiple virtual circuits and having the global address of the second network concentrator node on a single virtual path connection to the first network gateway node,
• multiple virtual circuits being established between the second network access nodes and the second network concentrator node,
• the second network concentrator node being configured to switch data frames received on the multiple virtual circuits and having the global address of the first network concentrator node on a single virtual path connection to the second network gateway node,
• the gateway nodes being configured to switch data frames having a common global address on a single virtual path connection, thereby concentrating data frames into fewer connections across the network to network interface than would be necessary in the absence of the concentrator nodes, and
• a closed loop flow control loop having a permanent virtual connection segment and a virtual path segment being established in at least one of the first and second networks for traffic management.

A method of reducing connection count between gateway nodes of first and second networks communicating across a network to network interface, comprising the steps of:

• designating a first network concentrator node between multiple first network access nodes and the first network gateway node;
• designating a second network concentrator node between multiple second network access nodes and the second network gateway node;
• assigning a global address to each concentrator node, each global address having significance across multiple nodes of the networks and usable for routing without modification thereof;
• concentrating virtual circuit traffic between access nodes and concentrator nodes to virtual path traffic by switching data frames having a common global address on a single virtual path connection;
• and
• managing traffic via a closed loop flow control loop having a permanent virtual connection segment and a virtual path segment.

A network concentrator node coupled between access nodes and a gateway node of a first network, the first network in communication with a second network across a network to network interface, the concentrator node comprising:

• a global address having significance across multiple paths within the first and second networks and used by multiple nodes within the first and second networks for routing without modification thereof;
• multiple virtual circuit connections to the first network access nodes;
• a virtual path connection to the first network gateway node;
• and
• a permanent virtual circuit control loop and a virtual path control loop between the at least one concentrator node and the network to network interface for traffic management, the network concentrator node configured:
• to receive, on the multiple virtual circuits, data frames having a global address of a concentrator node located within the second network,
• to switch the received data frames on the virtual path connection to the first network gateway node so as to be further switched by the first network gateway node across the network to network interface to the second network concentrator node over a virtual path, and
• to thereby concentrate data frames into fewer connections across the network to network interface than would be necessary in the absence of the concentrator nodes.