Patent ID: 7738363
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
1. A network relay apparatus performing relay processing of data between a first network and a second network, and provided with a redundant structure to handle failure in relay processing of main data in a working system using a spare system, comprising: a working-system first data transmission/reception processing unit that performs data transmission/reception processing with respect to the first network, and that includes a sub-data transmission/reception processing unit that performs transmission/reception processing of sub data which is different from the main data with respect to the first network; a working-system second data transmission/reception processing unit that performs data transmission/reception processing with respect to the second network; a spare-system first data transmission/reception processing unit that performs data transmission/reception processing with respect to the first network, and that includes a sub-data transmission/reception processing unit that performs transmission/reception processing of sub data which is different from the main data with respect to the first network; a spare-system second data transmission/reception processing unit that performs data transmission/reception processing with respect to the second network; a data transmission/reception controlling unit that causes the spare-system second data transmission/reception processing unit to perform the transmission/reception processing of the sub data when the working-system second data transmission/reception processing unit and the spare-system second data transmission/reception processing unit operate normally, and causes a normal one of the working-system second data transmission/reception processing unit and the spare-system second data transmission/reception processing unit to perform the transmission/reception processing of the main data when a failure occurs in one of the working-system second data transmission/reception processing unit and the spare-system second data transmission/reception processing unit; and a notifying unit that notifies, when the data transmission/reception controlling unit causes change in units dealing with the transmission/reception processing of the main data between the working-system second data transmission/reception processing unit and the spare-system second data transmission/reception processing unit, a data relay unit provided with a connection unit for each of the working system and the spare system on a side of the second network, that the main data is now on transmitted to a connection unit which is different from a connection unit which has been receiving the main data.