Method for transmitting data packets and network element for carrying out the method

A method of transmitting data packets (DAT) by way of a synchronous digital data transmission network (SDH) as defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in which the data packets (DAT) are packed into synchronous transport modules (STM-N), comprising the steps of

• using subunits (VC) of synchronous transport modules (STM-N) of the same size in order to establish logical virtual connections between network elements (NE1-NEn, MUX1, MUX2, CC1, CC2) of the synchronous digital data transmission network (SDH),
• entering the virtual connections (LV1-LV4) into an address table (TAB),
• in at least one part of the network elements (NE1-NEn, MUX1, MUX2, CC1, CC2) of the synchronous digital data transmission network, evaluating the target address (ZAD) of the data packets (DAT),
• at least for a part of the data packets (DAT) from at least one of the network elements of the synchronous digital data transmission network, on the basis of the address table (TAB) and the target address (ZAD), deciding which one of the virtual connections (LV1-LV4) to use to transmit this data packet;
• and
• automatically preparing the address table (TAB) in a network element, by recording the target addresses (ZAD) and the source addresses of incoming and outgoing data packets (DAT).

A method of transmitting data packets (DAT) by way of a synchronous digital data transmission network (SDH) as defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) in which the data packets (DAT) are packed into synchronous transport modules (STM-N), comprising the steps of

• using subunits (VC) of synchronous transport modules (STM-N) of the same size in order to establish logical virtual connections between network elements (NE1-NEn, MUX1, MUX2, CC1, CC2) of the synchronous digital data transmission network (SDH),
• entering the virtual connections (LV1-LV4) into an address table (TAB),
• in at least one part of the network elements (NE1-NEn, MUX1, MUX2, CC1, CC2) of the synchronous digital data transmission network, evaluating the target address (ZAD) of the data packets (DAT),
• at least for a part of the data packets (DAT) from at least one of the network elements of the synchronous digital data transmission network, on the basis of the address table (TAB) and the target address (ZAD), deciding which one of the virtual connections (LV1-LV4) to use to transmit this data packet, and
• establishing a new, fixed, logical connection at the instigation of a network element if the number of data packets to be transmitted, which have the same target address or a group of neighboring target addresses, exceeds a threshold value.