Abstract: A first communication terminal broadcasts an ARP request frame which includes an IP address to a network, a second communication terminal which has the identical IP address to the one included in the ARP request frame transmits an ARP response frame which is added with a MAC address, to a second ATM terminal adapter, then the second ATM terminal adapter temporarily stores the ARP response frame. The second ATM terminal adapter broadcasts a virtual path request frame to a first ATM terminal adapter, and branching units which are in a relaying path are specified in accordance with interface information.

Abstract: An asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network control apparatus receives data, converts the data into an ATM packet, stores a table of header information for at least one communication network, changes the header of the received ATM packet on the basis of information in the ATM packet header and the stored table, and outputs the modified ATM packet. Units which perform these functions are connected to a general purpose bus line and a high-speed bus line.