Method and apparatus for improved IP networks and high-quality services

A network comprising:

• (1) a first packet-switching and circuit-switching (PACS) router, wherein said first PACS router comprises;
• (a) a first device for switching circuits;
• (b) a second device for switching packets;
• (c) a first processor;
• and
• (d) a first interface for directly connecting said first device to a third device for switching circuits;
• wherein said first processor is coupled with said first device and said second device;
• wherein said first device and said second device are coupled;
• wherein said first processor maps a first portion of network traffic from said second device to a first channel based on a parameter of said network traffic and destination of said first portion of said network traffic;
• wherein said first processor maps a second portion of said network traffic from said second device to a second channel based on said parameter of said network traffic;
• wherein said first channel and said second channel are routed through said first device to said third device via said first interface;
• (2) a second PACS router, wherein said second PACS router comprises;
• (a) said third device;
• (b) a fourth device for switching packets;
• and
• (c) a second processor;
• and
• wherein said second processor is coupled with said third device and said fourth device;
• wherein said third device and said fourth device are coupled;
• wherein said second processor routes said first channel via said third device to a third PACS router based on a first routing protocol;
• wherein said second processor routes said second channel via said third device to said fourth device based on said first routing protocol;
• wherein said second processor routes packets in said second channel via said fourth device based on a second routing protocol;
• and
• wherein each of said first, second and third PACS routers further comprises a restoration protocol, wherein said restoration protocol reroutes said first channel in response to detection of a network link failure.

A method for routing best-effort traffic and high-quality traffic in a communications network comprising:

• routing a first portion of network traffic by a circuit-switching device and routing a second portion of network traffic by said circuit switching device and a first packet switching device, based on a parameter of said network traffic;
• combining said first portion of network traffic and a third portion of network traffic arriving from a second packet switching device to compose a combined network traffic, wherein said first portion of network traffic and said third portion of network traffic have a service quality requirement greater than a first threshold;
• determining the capacity requirement of said combined network traffic;
• determining available capacity of a first circuit-channel;
• mapping said combined network traffic onto said first circuit-channel when the available capacity of said first circuit-channel is greater than the capacity requirement of said combined network traffic;
• determining the available capacity of a second circuit-channel;
• and
• mapping said combined network traffic onto said second circuit-channel when the available capacity of said second circuit-channel is greater than the capacity requirement of said combined network traffic and the available capacity of said first circuit-channel is less than the capacity requirement of said combined network traffic.