Patent ID: 7830895

Claim:
A packet communication system, comprising: a packet communication apparatus including a node management processor for controlling the packet communication apparatus, network interfaces for transmitting and receiving packets to and from external networks, at least one function enhancement module for performing predetermined processes on the packets, and a switch for transferring the packets within the packet communication apparatus; a terminal for transmitting and receiving the packets to and from the packet communication apparatus; and a first external network for connecting the packet communication apparatus with the terminal, wherein the at least one function enhancement module stores a program stored in a first memory, each of the network interfaces includes a CPU and a second memory, the program stored in the at least one function enhancement module is installed in the second memory of each network interface, the CPU of each network interface processes the packets received from the external networks by executing the program installed in the second memory of the network interface, the node management processor receives update information for updating the program installed in the second memory of each network interface from the at least one function enhancement module, obtains the program from the at least one function enhancement module which is identified on the basis of the received update information, stores the program, and transmits the obtained program to the network interfaces, and the at least one function enhancement module processes the packet processed by the CPU of each network interface by executing the program updated by the at least one function enhancement module.