Patent ID: 7961644
Filing Date: 2011-06-14
Classification: H04L,Y02D

Abstract:
1. A communication node apparatus for establishing a path for communication in a communication network by exchanging a control message between the communication node apparatus and another communication node apparatus and by setting switching information, comprising: a first unit configured to include, into a control message to be sent to the other communication node apparatus for establishing a path, path identification information or group identification information of a path for which reusing resources of the path to be established is permitted or inhibited, or to include, into the control message, path identification information or group identification information of a path from which resources can be reused by the path to be established, and to send the control message, wherein the other communication node apparatus that receives the control message from the communication node apparatus stores information included in the control message in a resource reuse availability information table as reuse availability information, and when the other communication node apparatus receives a control message from the communication node apparatus for establishing a new path, including path identification information of a path from which resources can be reused or group identification information of a group from which resources can be reused, the other communication node apparatus retrieves reuse availability information corresponding to the path identification information or the group identification information from the resource reuse availability information table to determine resource reuse availability by determining whether the reuse availability information includes the new path or a group to which the new path belongs as a path or a group permitted to reuse resources, and when it is determined that reuse of the resources is permitted, the other communication node apparatus reuses and assigns resources of the path from which resources can be reused as resources for establishing the new path, and to establish the new path.