Patent ID: 6671277
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A network relaying apparatus comprising:at least a network interface connected to at least a network; at least a routing processor including a quality-of-service (QoS) flow search unit on output side and a flow search table for storing the action corresponding to the reference conditions including the source information and the transfer destination information for routing the packets input from said network interface; a routing manager for managing the internal components of the apparatus; and a connector for connecting said routing manager and each of a plurality of said routing processors; wherein a first network interface outputs the input packets from the network to a first routing processor connected with said first network interface; wherein said first routing processor stores the input packets from said fist network interface in a packet buffer, searches for the transfer destination of the input packets stored in the packet buffer based on the stored header information, compares the reference information including the source and the transfer destination with the conditions specified in the flow search table, searches for the action in the entry with which a coincidence is determined, stores the searched information in the header information, performs the QoS control according to said header information, and in the case where the route to the searched transfer destination includes another routing processor, outputs to said connector the input packets stored in said packet buffer and the output packets produced according to said header information; wherein said connector transmits the packets received from said first routing processor to the second routing processor of the searched transfer destination; and wherein said second routing processor stores the input packets from said connector in a packet buffer, searches for the transfer destination of the input packets stored in said packet buffer based on the stored header information, stores the searched information in said header information, controls the QoS according to said header information, and outputs the input packets stored in said packet buffer and the output packets produced according to said header information, to the port connected to the route of the network interface connected with the local routing processor.