Abstract: An ATM cell bridge apparatus and a cell bridging method as well as an information transmission system having a cell bridge apparatus by which a cell can be outputted in accordance with a priority degree even during multicast processing. The ATM cell bridge apparatus includes a buffer unit for storing cell data of input cells, a buffer control unit for controlling writing and reading out of the cell data into and from the buffer unit, a cell production control unit for managing multicast information of the cell data read out from the buffer unit by the buffer control unit and producing a cell to be outputted from header information of the cell data, and a cell outputting unit for outputting the cell produced by the cell production control unit and issuing a cell data readout request to the buffer control unit.

Abstract: The invention provides an ATM cell bridge apparatus and a cell bridging method as well as an information transmission system having a cell bridge apparatus by which a cell can be outputted in accordance with a priority degree of it even during multicast processing and the burden to a transmission source is moderated by intra-port multicast on an ATM transmission apparatus and besides the transmission efficiency of cells having high priority degrees is raised.

Abstract: A time-slot interchanger includes first and second time switches and a space switch installed between the first and second time switches. The first time switch includes a first part for supplying data, which is produced by adding a blank region to input data supplied to the first time switch, in n systems (n is an integer), in parallel to the space switch. And the second time switch includes a second part for supplying output data, which is produced by removing the blank region from data received in the n systems and in parallel from the space switch.