Patent ID: 7764672
Filing Date: 2010-07-27
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A packet communication device, comprising: a plurality of line interfaces capable of reception or transmission of a packet; a plurality of ports to which said plurality of line interfaces are connected and to which at least one functional processor to be used to perform functional processing on an incoming packet received by any of said plurality of line interfaces can be connected as needed; a function item judgment unit for judging a function item to be required for said incoming packet; a forwarding information generator for determining a forwarding port for said incoming packet in accordance with said function item obtained from judging by said function item judgment unit and imparting to said incoming packet forwarding information for designating said forwarding port; a forwarding path switching unit for switching a forwarding path when forwarding said incoming packet among said plurality of ports based on said forwarding information, wherein when said function item judgment unit has judged that a plurality of functional processings are required for said incoming packet, the plurality of forwarding information corresponding to functional processors capable of executing said required functional processings is imparted to said incoming packets at the forwarding information generator in order to forward said incoming packets successively to a plurality of ports to which the functional processors capable of executing said required functional processings are connected respectively, wherein in order to forward those incoming packets which have been subjected to said plurality of functional processing to any of said plurality of line interfaces, said forwarding information generator further imparts, to said packet, forwarding information corresponding to a port, to which the said line interface is connected for forwarding said incoming packets; and a forwarding information eliminator for eliminating, after said incoming packet is forwarded to a predetermined port based on said forwarding information, forwarding information corresponding to said port from forwarding information added to said incoming packet.