System and method for transferring packets in a "connectionless" network

The invention relates generally to the field of digital networking systems, and more particular to systems and methods for controlling the transfer of message packets over a digital network. The invention particularly provides an system and method by which message packets which are provided for transfer using a "connectionless" packet transfer methodology can be transferred over a network using a virtual circuit packet transfer methodology. A network comprises a plurality of devices interconnected by a plurality of switching nodes. At least one device, as a source device, generates device packets for transfer to other devices, as destination devices, with each device packet including an address portion including an address identifying at least one of the destination devices. The switching nodes establish respective virtual circuits thereover for transferring virtual circuit packets from at least one the switching node, as an originating switching node, which is connected to the source device, to others of the switching nodes, as respective terminating switching nodes, each of which is connected to a destination device. The originating switching node receives each device packet from the source device and generates a respective virtual circuit packet therefor, each virtual circuit packet including a virtual circuit identifier identify one of the virtual circuits over which the virtual circuit packet is to be transferred, and transferring the respective virtual circuit packet over the virtual circuit. Successive switching nodes associated with each virtual circuit, as intermediate switching nodes, receive the virtual circuit packets and use the virtual circuit identifier in each packet to determine routing for the virtual circuit packet. Each terminating switching node, upon receipt of a the virtual circuit packet, extract the device packet and, using the address identifying the destination device, transfer the device packet to the identified destination device.