Patent ID: 6873796

Claim:
A node device which is used in an optical network system for transferring a user packet input from outside said optical network system to outside said optical network system through a plurality of said node devices, which arc provided for making an optical path on a transfer route and which functioning as a start point node device, and an end point node device, an intermediate point node having an optical path to be set in said optical network system device between the start and end point node devices, respectively, the node device comprising: a router, an optical switch, and a node control device, said node control device including a connection information responding means, and an optical path setting means; said connection information responding means, when said optical network system has sequentially provided therein a first node device, a second node device, a third node device, and a fourth node device and when said connection information responding means belongs to said second node device: inquiring said third node device adjacent to said second node device about connection information of said third node device and connection information of said fourth node device adjacent to said third node device each time a predetermined time is elapsed or a predetermined event is generated, and storing the connection information of said third node device and the connection information of said fourth node device; and responding with connection information of said second node device and connection information of said first node device adjacent to said second node device if said second node device receives inquiring about the connection information thereof and the connection information of said first node device; and said optical path setting means, when said second node device functions as said intermediate node device, setting an optical path in said second node device without going through the router included therein based on the connection information of each of said third and fourth node devices acquired using said connection information responding means.