Method and switching device for receiving and transmitting information cells transmitted according to the asynchronous transfer mode through an ATM switching device

For receiving and forwarding message cells transmitted according to an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) by an ATM switching equipment which comprises a multi-stage reversing switching matrix network, each of the message cells has a routing information block having a plurality of routing information corresponding in number of the plurality of switching matrix stages to be traversed located in front thereof within the ATM switching equipment and the routing information just evaluated for the forwarding of a message cell through one of the switching matrix stages is subsequently displaced to the end of the respective routing information block. It is thereby provided that each of the routing information of the routing information block has a separate security information attached thereto and the security information is falsified, together with the displacement of a routing information to the end of the respective routing information block. A message cell is thereby only forwarded via a switching matrix stage when the routing information to be evaluated for that purpose has been recognized as being free of error on the basis of the attached security information.