communications A communications paradigm in which
packets (messages or fragments of messages) are individually
routedbetween
nodes, with no previously established communication
path. Packets are routed to their destination through the
most expedient route (as determined by some routing
algorithm). Not all packets travelling between the same two
hosts, even those from a single message, will necessarily
follow the same route.
The destination computer reassembles the packets into their
appropriate sequence. Packet switching is used to optimise
the use of the
bandwidth available in a network and to
minimise the
latency.
X.25 is an international standard
packet switching network.
(1999-03-30)