Packet Switching and Virtual circuits: similarities < Store and forward'communication based on an address >) Address is either the destination address or a vc identifier Must have buffer space to tem porarily store packets >)E.g. multiple packets for some destination arrive simultaneously Multiplexing on a link is similar to time sharing > No reservations: multiplexing is statistical, i.e. packets are interleaved without a fixed pattern Reservations: some flows are guaranteed to get a certain number of“ slots” DBCIBAA 99 Packet Switching and Virtual Circuits: Similarities “Store and forward” communication based on an address. » Address is either the destination address or a VC identifier Must have buffer space to temporarily store packets. » E.g. multiple packets for some destination arrive simultaneously Multiplexing on a link is similar to time sharing. » No reservations: multiplexing is statistical, i.e. packets are interleaved without a fixed pattern » Reservations: some flows are guaranteed to get a certain number of “slots” D B C B A A