Packet switching has emerged as a telecommunications technique with unlimited potential. Because it permits communications resources to be used at utmost efficiency, packet switching can adapt to a wide range of user services and user demands. Public packet switching networks have been built or are planned in more than 20 countries around the world, and numerous private and experimental networks are currently using packet switching. Presently packet switching is used primarily in connection with computer and data communication. However, its effectiveness for voice, video, and other wideband telecommunications services has been demonstrated, and as advanced data processing techniques improve the computer processors that form the heart of the packet switches, this application of the technique will undoubtedly become widespread. This book explains how packet networks operate, how they compare to alternative techniques, and how the many options in the design and use of packet networks are interrelated. The needs of both suppliers and users of packet net­ works are addressed throughout the book, particularly because one's viewpoint can have a significant impact on design choices. Read Less