Patent ID: 7603480

Claim:
A method of switching between network connection devices provided in a network system, the network system including: a plurality of devices to be switched connected to each other through a network; a plurality of pseudo redundant configuration setting means, each of which or several of which are connected respectively to one device to be switched and which perform a communication using a redundancy protocol with respective devices to be switched; and association control means connected to the plurality of pseudo redundant configuration setting means, wherein when at least one of the plurality of devices to be switched is being in a standby state and this standby state needs to be maintained, the pseudo redundant configuration setting means connected at least to one device to be switched issues a signal for maintaining a standby state to the device to be switched being in a standby state, when the plurality of devices to be switched are switched between a standby state and operating state, the association control means transmits a switching instruction for switching between a standby state and operating state to the pseudo redundant configuration setting means connected to the device to be switched being in a standby state and pseudo redundant configuration setting means connected to the device to be switched being in an operating state, the pseudo redundant configuration setting means connected to the device to be switched being in a standby state transmits, in response to the switching instruction, information for switching to an operating state to the device to be switched being in a standby state, and the pseudo redundant configuration setting means connected to the device to be switched being in an operating state transmits, in response to the switching instruction, information for switching to a standby state to the device to be switched being in an operating state.