Abstract: A broadcast control system and its components capable of determining unique routes to deliver broadcast cells to every destination in an ATM network, which is designed to avoid network congestion and subsequent degradation in quality of service, as well as to reduce the workloads imposed on network equipment. The ATM network is organized by a plurality of network elements and at least one service provider terminal connected to a source network element. A broadcast routing controller disposed in the source network element distributes a broadcast routing control cell over the ATM network. Each network element on the network receives this broadcast routing control cell as well as its replicas delivered through different paths, and on the basis of information contained in those control cells, it establishes its own routing data in the local storage. This routing data indicates a particular link that is connected to the shortest path between the source network element and the present network element.

Abstract: A communication terminal in an information offering system used through an ATM network providing, for example, multicast connections. The information offering system is equipped with an information offering unit and a network unit accommodating a plurality of communication terminals including the communication terminal through lines and made to offer desired information transmitted from the information offering unit through a virtual path and virtual channel set peculiarly to the information to the communication terminal. The communication terminal comprises an identifying information inserting section for inserting information for identifying one of the communication terminals being the sender as terminal identifying information into data to be transmitted to the information offering unit side and a transmitting section for transmitting the data undergoing the insertion of the terminal identifying information in the identifying information inserting section through the virtual path and the virtual channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is an additional-service communication system in which an additional service for which a request has been issued by a subscriber apparatus is provided to the subscriber apparatus from a provider apparatus by cells via a transmission line. In the communication system, a transmission apparatus is provided between the provider apparatus and the subscriber apparatus. The transmission apparatus generates charge metering cells commensurate with amount of additional-service cells in regard to each subscriber apparatus and transmits these cells to the provider apparatus and subscriber apparatus via the transmission line. The provider apparatus counts the charge metering cells in regard to each subscriber apparatus and calculates the charge due from each subscriber apparatus. The subscriber apparatus counts the charge metering cells, calculates the charge due and displays this charge.

Abstract: A clayish composition for producing a molded article of noble metal consists essentially of a noble metal powder, starch and a water-soluble cellulose resin as organic binder and water. The contents of the starch and the water-soluble cellulose resin each fall in the range of 0.02-3.0% by weight, based on the total amount of the organic binder and the noble metal powder. A method for producing the sintered article of noble metal consists essentially of a step for producing the clayish composition mentioned above, a step of molding the clayish composition in a desired shape, a step of drying the molded article and a step of sintering the dried molded article.