Abstract: A data communication apparatus to be coupled to a first network and a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, includes a receiving unit which receives a data including header information indicating a destination and first header information used to identify a first Virtual Private Network (VPN) in the first network. The apparatus also includes a transmitter which transmits data having added thereto a MPLS header information used to identify one of the plurality of second VPNs in the MPLS network, the MPLS header information corresponding to both the header information indicating the destination and the first header information used to identify the first VPN in the first network included in the received data.

Abstract: A data communication apparatus to be coupled to a first network and a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, includes a receiving unit which receives a data including header information indicating a destination and first header information used to identify a first Virtual Private Network (VPN) in the first network. The apparatus also includes a transmitter which transmits data having added thereto a MPLS header information used to identify one of the plurality of second VPNs in the MPLS network, the MPLS header information corresponding to both the header information indicating the destination and the first header information used to identify the first VPN in the first network included in the received data.

Abstract: A data communication apparatus to be coupled to a first network and a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, includes a receiving unit which receives a data including header information indicating a destination and first header information used to identify a first Virtual Private Network (VPN) in the first network. The apparatus also includes a transmitter which transmits data having added thereto a MPLS header information used to identify one of the plurality of second VPNs in the MPLS network, the MPLS header information corresponding to both the header information indicating the destination and the first header information used to identify the first VPN in the first network included in the received data.

Abstract: A data communication apparatus to be coupled to a first network and a Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, includes a receiving unit which receives a data including header information indicating a destination and first header information used to identify a first Virtual Private Network (VPN) in the first network. The apparatus also includes a transmitter which transmits data having added thereto a MPLS header information used to identify one of the plurality of second VPNs in the MPLS network, the MPLS header information corresponding to both the header information indicating the destination and the first header information used to identify the first VPN in the first network included in the received data.

Abstract: A surface treatment device includes a belt member having a surface layer in which plural kinds of rubbers having a different hardness mixedly exist. In the device, a press/heat unit presses a recording medium with a toner image formed against the belt member such that the toner image contacts with the surface layer, and heats the recording medium to melt at least a surface of the toner image.

Abstract: A method serves to compose a VPN (Virtual Private Network) over a plurality of networks, each of which is managed by a different Internet Service Provider (ISP). When a packet with a first capsule header used for composing a VPN in a first ISP network is transmitted to a second ISP network, a route for outputting the packet to the second ISP network is determined based on the information both in the capsule header and in the IP header. In addition, a second capsule header used for composing a VPN in the second ISP network is determined based on the above information.

Abstract: A method serves to compose a VPN (Virtual Private Network) over a plurality of networks, each of which is managed by a different Internet Service Provider (ISP). When a packet with a first capsule header used for composing a VPN in a first ISP network is transmitted to a second ISP network, a route for outputting the packet to the second ISP network is determined based on the information both in the capsule header and in the IP header. In addition, a second capsule header used for composing a VPN in the second ISP network is determined based on the above information.

Abstract: An input interface segments a variable length packet into plurality of fixed length cells and generates an internal switching information based on the header information of the variable length packet. The input interface transmits the information to a switch and, after that, transmits the cells as the following cells of the information to the switch. The switch performs switching processing to the succeeding cells based on the information. Therefore, the information is not added to the cells. When an input interface starts to transmit cells generated from a packet to its destination output interface through the switch, the switch is reserved until all the cells arrive at the output interfaces.

Abstract: In an IP packet communication apparatus, an operation and maintenance function capable of monitoring a transmission path is provided to a layer used to process a packet, which corresponds to an upper layer of an optical network. As one method for applying the operation and maintenance function to the packet layer, in the case of IP over PPP over WDM, an operation/maintenance frame is defined to a PPP frame so as to realize the operation/maintenance function of a PPP connection. In the case that a plurality of connections are multiplexed on the same transmission path, a maintenance frame is conducted in order to operate/manage these connections by being grouped, so that a fault occurring in the optical network is monitored. As another method for applying the operation and maintenance function to the packet layer, an operation/maintenance frame is defined to an IP packet so as to realize an operation and maintenance function of an IP flow.

Abstract: Interlayer-coordinated communication-line switching in a network including two layers, each having a switching function. In the present invention, a communication apparatus which (1) is connected with a network including (i) lower layer apparatus which are connected with communication lines of a lower layer and communication lines of an upper layer and conducts line switching in the lower layer and (ii) upper layer apparatuses which are connected with the communication lines of the upper layer and have means for line switching in the upper layer and (2) detects line failure and coordinates line switching using failure information on the lower and upper layer communication lines.

Abstract: Upon initialization, a VPC is set up between edge nodes. A control processor of each node creates an IP address/VPC mapping table using IP routing information and an address mapping table mapping correspondence between IP addresses and ATM addresses and supplied by a network management system. A gateway assigns a VCC to each packet input to the network. A sending-side edge node inputs the packet to the VPC corresponding to its destination by referring to the IP address/VPC mapping table. A transit node performs packet switching over VP. A receiving-side edge node transfers each packet to the gateway corresponding to its destination. If a series of packets meet a predetermined condition in a given edge node, its control processor sends VCC information to input interfaces of the edge node so that the packets are switched by an ATM switch in the edge node without intervention of the control processor.

Abstract: An optical gas sensing apparatus for sensing gas includes a tubular housing member, a column light source member, a column light sensing element member and an adhesive. The tubular housing member has a light-reflecting inner surface. The column light source member is provided to a first end portion of the housing member, wherein the light source member has a light source, which emits light. The column light sensing element member is provided to a second end portion of the housing member, wherein the light sensing element member has a light sensing element, which senses the light emitted by the light source. The adhesive connects the housing member to at least one of the light source member and the light sensing element member.

Abstract: This invention provides a novel gene that can impart salt stress tolerance to plants for a long period of time and salt stress tolerant transgenic plants to which such gene has been introduced. Such novel gene encodes the following protein (a), (b), or (c), and such salt stress tolerant transgenic plant has such gene introduced therein: (a) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing; (b) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing by deletion, substitution, or addition of one or several amino acid residues and having activity of imparting salt stress tolerance to plants; or (c) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence derived from the amino acid sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO: 2 in the Sequence Listing by deletion, substitution, or addition of one or several amino acid residues and having UDP-glucose 4-epimerase activity.

Abstract: The invention provides a fixing method including conveying a recording medium on which a toner image has been formed using a fixing belt, in a state in which the fixing belt contacts with a surface of the recording medium on which the toner image is formed, at least from a fixing portion in which the toner image is fixed by heating and pressing the recording medium to a cooling portion in which the recording medium after fixing is cooled, wherein the ten-point average roughness (Rz) of a surface of the fixing belt contacting with the recording medium is 0.7 ?m or less or the filtered maximum waviness in every convex portion present on a surface of the fixing belt contacting with the recording medium is 50 ?m or less. The invention also provides a fixing apparatus using the method and an image forming apparatus using the method.

Abstract: A pressure sensor device (1) includes a sensing element (2) for sending an analog signal according to pressure. The pressure sensor device (1) outputs the analog voltage to a microcomputer (20) through an input-output terminal (8). An input-output control circuit (4) monitors the voltage value in the input-output terminal (8). When the voltage of the input-output terminal (8) is set to high by the microcomputer (20) and is dislocated from a predetermined range, the input-output control circuit (4) functionally changes the input-output terminal (8) outputting a detecting signal to a terminal for inputting an external signal from the microcomputer. After the input-output terminal (8) is changed to the terminal for inputting the external signal, a range control circuit (7) fetches an external command signal through the input-output terminal (8) and switches the output characteristics.

Abstract: An A/D converter has inverting elements and delay elements alternately disposed in series. Each inverting element receives an analog voltage signal as a power source and converts a pulse signal in an inversion operation time depending on the analog voltage signal. Each delay element delays transmission of the pulse signal. The transmission of the pulse signal is started from a starting inverting element at a start time, and a transit position of the pulse signal is detected at a detection time later than the start time by a predetermined time. A digital value indicating a level of the analog voltage signal is determined from the detected transit position of the pulse signal. Because transmission of the pulse signal is delayed by the delay elements, the transit position depending on the analog voltage signal can be correctly detected.

Abstract: A method serves to compose a VPN (Virtual Private Network) over a plurality of networks, each of which is managed by a different Internet Service Provider (ISP). When a packet with a first capsule header used for composing a VPN in a first ISP network is transmitted to a second ISP network, a route for outputting the packet to the second ISP network is determined based on the information both in the capsule header and in the IP header. In addition, a second capsule header used for composing a VPN in the second ISP network is determined based on the above information.

Abstract: A surface treatment device includes a belt member having a surface layer in which plural kinds of rubbers having a different hardness mixedly exist. In the device, a press/heat unit presses a recording medium with a toner image formed against the belt member such that the toner image contacts with the surface layer, and heats the recording medium to melt at least a surface of the toner image.

Abstract: An A/D converter has inverting elements and delay elements alternately disposed in series. Each inverting element receives an analog voltage signal as a power source and converts a pulse signal in an inversion operation time depending on the analog voltage signal. Each delay element delays transmission of the pulse signal. The transmission of the pulse signal is started from a starting inverting element at a start time, and a transit position of the pulse signal is detected at a detection time later than the start time by a predetermined time. A digital value indicating a level of the analog voltage signal is determined from the detected transit position of the pulse signal. Because transmission of the pulse signal is delayed by the delay elements, the transit position depending on the analog voltage signal can be correctly detected.

Abstract: The invention provides a fixing method including conveying a recording medium on which a toner image has been formed using a fixing belt, in a state in which the fixing belt contacts with a surface of the recording medium on which the toner image is formed, at least from a fixing portion in which the toner image is fixed by heating and pressing the recording medium to a cooling portion in which the recording medium after fixing is cooled, wherein the ten-point average roughness (Rz) of a surface of the fixing belt contacting with the recording medium is 0.7 ?m or less or the filtered maximum waviness in every convex portion present on a surface of the fixing belt contacting with the recording medium is 50 ?m or less. The invention also provides a fixing apparatus using the method and an image forming apparatus using the method.