Patent ID: 6046999
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A router apparatus in which packets entailing the processing of a packet switching type layer 3 in communication are switched by using a switch, comprising:a switch for switching cells;plural interfaces which are connected to plural transmission paths for transmitting the packets;a cell multiplexing/demultiplexing unit which is connected to one physical port of said switch and said plural interfaces; anda layer 3 controller for executing and managing the processing of the layer 3 in the apparatus thereof, wherein each of said interfaces comprises means for converting packets transmitted from the connected transmission path to cells and then transmitting the cells to said cell multiplexing/demultiplexing unit, means for converting the cells transmitted from said cell multiplexing/demultiplexing unit to packets and then transmitting the packets thus obtained to the transmission path being connected, and means for converting information in the header portions of the cells and the packets which are transmitted and received for said processing of the layer 3, and said cell multiplexing/demultiplexing unit includes means for serially multiplexing cells transmitted from said plural interfaces being connected and then transmitting the serially-multiplexed cells to said switch, and means for demultiplexing the cells transmitted from said switch and distributing the separated cells to said interface connected to the transmission path serving as the transmission destination, and wherein on the basis of a communication indicating plural kinds of identification information for identifying flow of a cell or packet, which contain physical port numbers set for each interface and a non-connected physical port of said switch of said cell multiplexing/demultiplexing unit, logical channel information set for the flow of the cell at said interface and said physical port, and address information of the layer 3 set for the flow of the packet in said interface, said layer 3 controller alters the content of the switching of the packet.