Patent ID: 6611505
Filing Date: 2003-08-26
Classification: H04W

Abstract:
A control signal processing apparatus which has a control function for managing establishment and maintenance of a physical signal link and a logical link and which sends and receives a frame containing a control signal through a physical link and a logical link which have been established, said control signal processing apparatus comprising:physical signal link switching-over means for switching over a physical signal link to be used in transmission and reception of control signals to a new physical signal link while holding an already established logical link, in response to a physical signal link switching-over request requiring switch over from one physical signal link to another physical signal link, including the steps of requesting establishment of a target physical signal link without releasing the logical link, starting reception of a control signal using both of the target physical signal link and an original physical signal link, switching over a physical signal link to be used in transmission of a control signal from the original physical signal link to the target physical signal link and requesting release of the original physical signal link when confirming the establishment of the target physical signal link, and switching over the physical signal link to be used in reception of a control signal from the original physical signal link to the target physical signal link when confirming the release of the original physical signal link; and a layer 2 processing section for performing processing for said logical link, said layer 2 processing section performing necessary processing for said logical link even though said switching over to said another physical signal link is being performed.