Patent ID: 7710883

Claim:
A path setting method in a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing communication between a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus for which a path setting is carried out by repeating through at least another communication apparatus in the middle of the path, said path setting method in a communication network performing communication via a plurality of layers comprising: judging existence of a possibility of reaching said second communication apparatus in said higher layer in said repeating use communication apparatus existing in the middle of the path, after a higher layer path setting request message requesting the path setting by said higher layer from said first communication apparatus to said second communication apparatus is originated; generating a lower layer path setting request message requesting a path setting by said lower layer in said repeating use communication apparatus when it is judged there is no possibility of reaching said second communication apparatus in said “judging” step, then taking out route designating information and bandwidth information in said received higher layer path setting request message and transmitting said lower layer path setting request message and further adding the taken out information to said lower layer path setting request message to transmit the lower layer path setting request message toward said second communication apparatus; and notifying said lower layer path setting request message transmitted in said “generating” step to each said repeating use communication apparatus on a route reaching said second communication apparatus.