Digital communications system

A digital communications network comprising:

• a connection-oriented transport fabric;
• a plurality of peripheral devices;
• interface means between said transport fabric and said peripheral devices storing the location of said peripheral devices;
• a centralized route server connected to said transport fabric storing address data pertaining to the location of said peripheral devices, said centralized route server exchanging data over said transport fabric with said interface means to learn the locations of said peripheral devices and to distribute such information so as to permit said interface means to establish direct transparent communication on demand using a dynamic mesh of virtual connections between a said peripheral device connected thereto and another said peripheral device attached to the system.

A method of establishing communications between user devices connected to a digital communications system comprising the steps of:

• providing access means to said connection-oriented network;
• storing address data pertaining to the location of said peripheral devices attached to the system in a centralized route server connected to said connection-oriented network;
• and
• exchanging address data over said connection-oriented network with said interface means to learn the locations of said peripheral devices and to distribute such information to said access means so as to permit said access means to establish direct transparent communication on demand using a dynamic mesh of virtual connections between a said peripheral device connected thereto and another said peripheral device attached to the system.