Patent ID: 7505476
Filing Date: 2009-03-17
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A packet transfer path control apparatus which controls a transfer of a unicast packet and a multicast packet, comprising: an output port determination unit determining an output port through which a packet input from any of one or more input ports is to be output, and assigning output order identification information for designation of an output order of the packet, the output order of the packet indicating an input order of the packet among a plurality of input packets including both the unicast packet and the multicast packet and indicating whether the unicast packet arrives earlier than the multicast packet; a packet data storage unit storing data of the plurality of input packets; and a plurality of packet output units respectively corresponding to the plurality of output ports, each packet output unit reading data of a packet determined by said output port determination unit to be output through a corresponding output port associated with the packet output unit in an output order indicated by the output order identification information from said packet data storage unit, and outputting the read data through the corresponding output port, wherein said output order identification information is a serial number indicating input orders of all packets input through all input ports, or a serial number indicating input orders of all packets output through each output port.