Patent ID: 6366582
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: H04L,H04Q

Abstract:
A connection switching network control system employed in a communication network comprising a plurality of connection switching exchanges and a plurality of terminating nodes connected to each other by a plurality of communication lines wherein:a plurality of logical communications are implemented through each of said communication lines; said connection switching exchanges each comprise an exchange represented by an ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode) and a frame relay for switching said logical connections of said communication lines through substitution of connection identifiers each identifying one of said logical connections using a switching table provided in each of said connection switching exchanges to show switching relations among said logical connections; said connection switching exchanges each serve as a relay apparatus; and said terminating nodes each serve as a communication terminal or a gateway apparatus connected to an external network, said connection switching network control system comprising an operation-control network composed of lines different from said communication lines and a network management unit which is provided in said communication network, connected to said communication switching exchanges in said communication network by said operation-control network and provided with grouped-connection management means as well as connection-control information for controlling said logical connections in said entire communication network, wherein said grouped-connection management means: uses said operation-control network as operation-control communication lines for communicating with said connection switching exchanges; puts a fixed number of said logical connections having consecutive connection identifiers within said communication network in a plurality of group units while referring to and updating said connection-control information; controls said logical connections in said communication network in said group units; assigns a connection identifier to logical connections passing through a plurality of connection switching exchanges; and issues a command to set up or release logical connections in one of said group units with consecutive connection identifiers in said group unit to said connection switching exchanges by way of operation-control communication lines.