Patent ID: 6418115
Filing Date: 2002-07-09
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
An exchange setting a transmission path for transmitting communication information through a switch network comprising a plurality of switches, said switch network being provided with a plurality of inputs and a plurality of outputs so that the transmission path is formed between one of the inputs and one of the outputs by routing the switches and said switch network, said exchange changing a route of the transmission path when a malfunction occurs in one of the switches included in the transmission path so as to bypass the malfunctioning switch, said exchange comprising:a malfunctioning switch detecting unit detecting a location of the malfunctioning switch in said switch network; and changing means for changing the route of the transmission path by switching one of the inputs which is connected to the transmission path or one of the outputs which is connected to the transmission path based on the predetermined routing information so as to bypass the malfunctioning switch, wherein said changing means comprises: a storing unit which stores table information indicating a plurality of routes each of which bypass one of the switches in said switch network, each of the routes being indicated in relation to one of the inputs and outputs of the switch network; a selecting unit selecting one of the routes indicated in said table information so as to change the route of the transmission path to bypass the malfunctioning switch, an input switching unit switching the input of said switch network; an output switching means switching the output of said switch network; and input and output selecting means for selecting one of said input switching unit or said output switching unit so that said changing means changes the route of the transmission path by the selected one of said input switching unit or said output switching unit.