Patent ID: 6822962
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method of switching a virtual connection between first and second ATM switches in an ATM network, comprising the steps of:previously storing into said first ATM switch, before a PVC between the first and second ATM switches is in a failure state, first bypassing control information in association with first PVC management information specifying the PVC, the first bypassing control information indicating first SVC specifying information for specifying an SVC to be used as a bypass of the PVC, address information of said second ATM switch, and second PVC specifying information necessary for said second ATM switch to specify the PVC; previously storing into said second ATM switch before the PVC between the first and second ATM switches is in a failure state, second bypassing control information in association with second PVC management information specifying the PVC, the second bypassing control information indicating second SVC specifying information for specifying an SVC to be used as a bypass of the PVC, address information of said first ATM switch, and first PVC specifying information necessary for said first ATM switch to specify the PVC; transmitting a bypassing call setup message autonomously from said first ATM switch to a line specified by the first SVC specifying information at the time of an operation of switching the PVC to the SVC, the bypassing call setup message including said second PVC specifying information and being transmitted using the address information of the second ATM switch as a called party address; switching the PVC to the SVC by said first ATM switch on the basis of the first PVC management information and said first SVC specifying information when a response is received from said second ATM switch; and referring to the second bypassing control information corresponding to said second PVC specifying information extracted from the bypassing call setup message by said second ATM switch, thereby to switch a PVC specified by the second PVC specifying information to an SVC specified by the second SVC specifying information included as a part of the second bypassing control information.