Abstract: The present invention relates to distributing the load between the set routes among a plurality of routes between a communication apparatus which serves as a start point to another communication apparatus which serves as an end point. An apparatus provided in a router in a network collects traffic characteristics of transmission paths connected to the router, notifies other routers of the collected traffic characteristics, calculates load based on the collected traffic characteristics, decides based on the calculated load information whether or not a transmission path should be added or deleted, and equalizes the load among the plurality of transmission paths.

Abstract: The present invention provides a traffic information collecting device and method. A node in a communication network collects a first traffic information of a first link connected to an own node. And also the node receives second traffic information of second links connected to the other nodes. The second traffic information is transmitted from the other nodes. The node stores the first and second information. In consequence, the node can be informed of the conditions of the traffic of each link in the communication network based on the stored information. As the result, it becomes possible to control the load sharing in correspondence to the conditions of the traffic.

Abstract: An L bit for notifying another router of whether a self-router belongs to a connection-oriented network is newly provided in the options field of a conventional OSPF packet and the OSPF packet, including L bit is transmitted to another router. In this way, each router belonging a network can automatically recognize a router belonging to a connection-oriented network by detecting L bit. Then, by generating a routing tree, a connection-oriented network device can be identified in the routing tree and mapping between a connection-oriented network and a connectionless network can be performed in an edge device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting paths to route incoming traffic through a data communication network, which is capable of effectively dispersing the traffic load to the selected paths on the network and effectively optimizing the use of network resources. In a communication network, a plurality of label switched paths between an ingress node and an egress node are provided. Incoming traffic at the ingress node is labeled and delivered through the network to the egress node. In a method and apparatus for selecting paths to route the incoming traffic through the network, a plurality of forwarding equivalent class elements (FEC) of the incoming traffic at the ingress node are allocated for the plurality of label switched paths. The labeled traffic is delivered on the plurality of label switched paths on an FEC-element basis so as to route the labeled traffic through the network to the egress node.

Abstract: A boundary apparatus on the transmission side provided on the boundary between an IP network accommodating a transmitting terminal and an ATM network separates the requests for bandwidth which are received from receiving terminals via boundary apparatuses on the reception side into a plurality of groups on the basis of a required bandwidth, establishes a point-multipoint connection between the boundary apparatus on the transmission side and each of the boundary apparatuses on the reception side for each group, and transmits the data from the transmitting terminal to each of the receiving terminals via the connection.

Abstract: Control messages for securing a communication quality are exchanged via a dedicated connection within an ATM network when a sending terminal in an IP network delivers data to a receiving terminal in another IP network via the ATM network. A resource reservation message sent from the receiving terminal is parsed by a boundary device located at the boundary between the IP and the ATM network, and a data transfer connection is established within the ATM network based on the information of the resource reservation message.

Abstract: The present invention provides a traffic information collecting device and method. A node in a communication network collects a first traffic information of a first link connected to an own node. And also the node receives second traffic information of second links connected to the other nodes. The second traffic information is transmitted from the other nodes. The node stores the first and second information. In consequence, the node can be informed of the conditions of the traffic of each link in the communication network based on the stored information. As the result, it becomes possible to control the load sharing in correspondence to the conditions of the traffic.

Abstract: The present invention relates to distributing the load between the set routes among a plurality of routes between a communication apparatus which serves as a start point to another communication apparatus which serves as an end point. An apparatus provided in a router in a network collects traffic characteristics of transmission paths connected to the router, notifies other routers of the collected traffic characteristics, calculates load based on the collected traffic characteristics, decides based on the calculated load information whether or not a transmission path should be added or deleted, and equalizes the load among the plurality of transmission paths.

Abstract: An L bit for notifying another router of whether a self-router belongs to a connection-oriented network is newly provided in the options field of a conventional OSPF packet and the OSPF packet, including L bit is transmitted to another router. In this way, each router belonging a network can automatically recognize a router belonging to a connection-oriented network by detecting L bit. Then, by generating a routing tree, a connection-oriented network device can be identified in the routing tree and mapping between a connection-oriented network and a connectionless network can be performed in an edge device.