Patent ID: 6963578

Claim:
A router for routing packets, each packet consisting of a header part and a data part, in accordance with a destination address that is specified in said header part, comprising: a priority level distinguishing means for distinguishing the priority level of a packet by referring to header information in the header of the packet; a packet distribution processing unit for determining an output line to be used for sending out packets; a first packet transmitting unit for sending out packets over a first output line; and a second packet transmitting unit for sending out packets over a second output line; wherein said packet distribution processing unit determines to send out a first string of packets distinguished by said priority level distinguishing means as first-priority packets with a first destination address specified in their header part over said first output line, to send out a second string of packets distinguished as first-priority packets by said priority level distinguishing means with a second destination address specified in their header part over said second output line, and to distribute a third string of packets distinguished by said priority level distinguishing means as second-priority packets between said first output line and said second output line at a distribution ratio that is determined based on the redundant bandwidth of said first output line and the redundant bandwidth of said second output line.