Abstract: There is provided a network node device capable of selecting a route without causing an increase in the size and complexity of the information management system. Input lines (11-1 to 11-m) receive a data packet and transfer the received data packet to routing switching unit (12). Routing switching unit (12) extracts a character code address from the data packet received from input lines (11-1 to 11-m), uses this character code address as an identifier to search routing table (14), and determines an output line from output lines (13-1 to 13-n). Routing switching unit (12) transmits the received data packet through the determined output line.

Abstract: A method of and a system for exchanging information of payload field of ATM cells wherein the minimum exchanging unit is 1 byte removing the limitation of the current ATM exchanging unit to 48 bytes (1 cell). The payload fields of ATM cells are divided into units of 8.times.N bits to effect exchanging operation, and the exchanging operation is performed by a function of copying ATM cells and rearrangement in position of information of payload field. The rearrangement in position of information of payload field is performed by a position switch which performs rearrangement within an ATM cell and between ATM cells. The position switch selects divided part informations in the payload fields with a signaling signal. The division of the payload field into units of 8.times.N bits may be a division other than a division beginning with the first bit of an ATM cell immediately following a header.

Abstract: A Feature Interaction Arbitrator (FIA) for identifying the existence of interactions among various telephone call features (e.g., call forwarding busy line and call waiting) and for resolving these interactions. The FIA manages feature interactions in three phases to support a telephone switch as well as a vendor's software development process, the feature administrator of the telephone operating company, feature designer, and for the subscriber (end-user). The first phase is when the feature administrator assigns several features to a subscriber's line. The second phase is when a subscriber activates at least one of the features previously assigned to the subscriber's line. The third phase identifies and resolves feature interactions that occur during run-time operation. During the latter two phases, the FIA is located in the telephone switching system. The FIA provides a database which includes numerical data assigned to classes of feature elements which uniquely define the properties of each feature.