System and process for providing user level multiplexing of two or more application channels to one virtual channel in asynchronous transfer mode network

摘要

An asynchronous transfer mode computer network system in which a first coter executes a first plurality of application programs, and a second computer executes a second plurality of application programs. The asynchronous transfer mode network connects the first computer to the second computer, for supporting communication between application programs on the first computer and application programs on the second computer. An application program on the first computer and an application program on the second computer are assigned an application channel having a period, a message size and a deadline. A plurality of application channels are assigned to a single virtual channel on the asynchronous transfer mode network, wherein the virtual channel has a bandwidth determined as a function of a sum of the message sizes of the application channels and the larger deadline of the application channels. Messages with an earliest deadline are transmitted firstover their assigned virtual channel.