Abstract: A switch circuit connects a switch (SW) to a connector when a connector receives a signal and connects the switch (SW) to a terminal when the connector receives power. The connector receives a signal and power transmitted at the same frequency, outputs the received signal to a communication unit through an attenuator, and outputs the received power to a power receiving unit. The communication unit carries out reception processing to the signal and outputs the processed signal to a computer. The power receiving unit carries out reception processing to the power and stores the processed power. The power receiving unit supplies the communication unit or the computer with the stored power.

Abstract: A radio device, which is the source, transmits a route request packet (RREQ) to a radio device. In response to the route request packet (RREQ), the radio device transmits to the radio device a route setup packet (RSET) including a route Radio Device Radio Device Radio Device Radio Device by looking-up topology information (TPIF). In response to the route setup packet (RSET), the radio device produces a route notification packet (RNTF) and transmits the produced route notification packet (RNTF) to radio devices, and. In response to the route notification packet (RNTF), the radio device, which is the destination, produces a route reply packet (RREP) and transmits the produced route reply packet (RREP) to the radio device, which is the source.

Abstract: Routing schemes are provided for a communication network. In one scheme, destination terminals and associated neighboring terminals are listed in a routing control cache at each communication terminal in the network, and packets are routed toward the destination terminal through the associated neighboring terminals. In another scheme, a single path from a source terminal to a destination terminal is automatically expanded into multiple paths. In yet another scheme, packets are routed as long as this does not increase the number of hops to the destination terminal. These schemes enable multiple paths to be established by a simple procedure not requiring complex distance calculations. In still another scheme, routing is restricted to the shortest path and paths up to a given number of hops longer than the shortest path, permitting paths to diverge in multiple directions from the source and destination terminals.

Abstract: A source terminal measures characteristics of the path at the source terminal itself, produces a characteristics-measurement packet, and transmits the produced characteristics-measurement packet to a relay terminal. Upon receiving the characteristics-measurement packet, the relay terminal measures characteristics of the path at the relay terminal itself, renews the characteristics of the path included in the characteristics-measurement packet using the measured characteristics of the path, and transmits the characteristics of the wireless communication path to the destination terminal. The source terminal produces an admission-request packet and transmits the packet to the destination terminal. Upon receiving the admission-request packet, the destination terminal allows or rejects the traffic quality maintenance request according to the characteristics of the wireless communication path.

Abstract: A switch circuit connects a switch (SW) to a connector when a connector receives a signal and connects the switch (SW) to a terminal when the connector receives power. The connector receives a signal and power transmitted at the same frequency, outputs the received signal to a communication unit through an attenuator, and outputs the received power to a power receiving unit. The communication unit carries out reception processing to the signal and outputs the processed signal to a computer. The power receiving unit carries out reception processing to the power and stores the processed power. The power receiving unit supplies the communication unit or the computer with the stored power.

Abstract: Each node or terminal in a communication network is capable of generating routing information for routing packets from an arbitrary source terminal to an arbitrary destination terminal on both a single-path route and a multipath route. The routing information is placed in packets transmitted to neighboring communication terminals, and analyzed in packets received from neighboring terminals. The single-path route is spatially or temporally separated from the multipath route so that the single-path route does not receive interference from the multipath route. Temporal separation may be effected by suspending the transmission of packets temporarily at each communication terminal on the multipath route. Spatial separation may be effected by using the routing information to designate different zones in the network, the single-path route being disposed in one zone, the multipath route in another zone.

Abstract: A multi-hop wireless communication system operates on multiple channels. Each wireless station in the system has at least two transmitting and receiving modules operating on different fixed channels. During transmission and reception of the packets, the transmitting and receiving modules are used selectively on each hop, using a channel supported by the wireless stations at both ends of the hop. When two or more channels are available, the channel used is selected so as to balance channel usage in the system as a whole, or on the multi-hop path as a whole. Alternatively, each wireless station may have a fixed transmitting channel. Communication delays are reduced because channel switching overhead is eliminated.

Abstract: A radio device, which is the source, transmits a route request packet (RREQ) to a radio device. In response to the route request packet (RREQ), the radio device transmits to the radio device a route setup packet (RSET) including a route Radio Device Radio Device Radio Device Radio Device by looking-up topology information (TPIF). In response to the route setup packet (RSET), the radio device produces a route notification packet (RNTF) and transmits the produced route notification packet (RNTF) to radio devices, and. In response to the route notification packet (RNTF), the radio device, which is the destination, produces a route reply packet (RREP) and transmits the produced route reply packet (RREP) to the radio device, which is the source.

Abstract: Routing schemes are provided for a communication network. In one scheme, destination terminals and associated neighboring terminals are listed in a routing control cache at each communication terminal in the network, and packets are routed toward the destination terminal through the associated neighboring terminals. In another scheme, a single path from a source terminal to a destination terminal is automatically expanded into multiple paths. In yet another scheme, packets are routed as long as this does not increase the number of hops to the destination terminal. These schemes enable multiple paths to be established by a simple procedure not requiring complex distance calculations. In still another scheme, routing is restricted to the shortest path and paths up to a given number of hops longer than the shortest path, permitting paths to diverge in multiple directions from the source and destination terminals.

Abstract: Routing schemes are provided for a communication network. In one scheme, destination terminals and associated neighboring terminals are listed in a routing control cache at each communication terminal in the network, and packets are routed toward the destination terminal through the associated neighboring terminals. In another scheme, a single path from a source terminal to a destination terminal is automatically expanded into multiple paths. In yet another scheme, packets are routed as long as this does not increase the number of hops to the destination terminal. These schemes enable multiple paths to be established by a simple procedure not requiring complex distance calculations. In still another scheme, routing is restricted to the shortest path and paths up to a given number of hops longer than the shortest path, permitting paths to diverge in multiple directions from the source and destination terminals.

Abstract: A source terminal measures characteristics of the path at the source terminal itself, produces a characteristics-measurement packet, and transmits the produced characteristics-measurement packet to a relay terminal. Upon receiving the characteristics-measurement packet, the relay terminal measures characteristics of the path at the relay terminal itself, renews the characteristics of the path included in the characteristics-measurement packet using the measured characteristics of the path, and transmits the characteristics of the wireless communication path to the destination terminal. The source terminal produces an admission-request packet and transmits the packet to the destination terminal. Upon receiving the admission-request packet, the destination terminal allows or rejects the traffic quality maintenance request according to the characteristics of the wireless communication path.

Abstract: A signal relaying apparatus includes a plurality of devices for relaying signals to and from distant nodes in a wireless communication network. At least one of the devices is an antenna; the devices may also include one or more cables. The devices are connectable to a transmitter and a receiver in the apparatus. The receiver receives a signal from one node through one of the devices; the transmitter transmits the same signal to another node through another of the devices. The signal may also be amplified or buffered before being transmitted. Because the signal is transmitted and received through different devices, the transmission of a signal packet can begin while the packet is still being received, thereby shortening the delay from reception to transmission, as compared with the delay in conventional apparatus that both receives and transmits the packet through a single antenna.

Abstract: A network path setting method sets a path of a session specified in a wireless mesh network including wireless stations, two of the wireless stations being defined as one end and the other end of the session. First, one or more potential paths are obtained for the session based on the number of hops. When a plurality of potential paths are obtained, wireless resource consumption is calculated for each potential path, or a traffic margin of each potential path is calculated according to the traffic margin of a relaying wireless station. The calculated wireless resource consumption or traffic margin of the potential paths is used as an evaluation parameter to select and set the path of the session. Among a number of connection paths, a connection path is selected which is suitable for the entire network.

Abstract: All wireless stations included in a wireless multi-hop network are allocated to one of channels available to the network as a common channel. A broadcast tree beginning from any one of the wireless stations is generated based on link information including path information on all links formed between two wireless stations communicatable in one hop. Branch information of the generated broadcast tree is used to group all of the wireless stations into blocks, and to each block is allocated a subchannel different from the common channel. A wireless station that can use the channels has its subchannel to a subchannel of group to which it belongs. Adjacent wireless stations in a wireless multi-hop network may thus be effectively allocated to communication channels, and may need minimum modification of the channels.

Abstract: A multi-hop wireless communication system operates on multiple channels. Each wireless station in the system has at least two transmitting and receiving modules operating on different fixed channels. During transmission and reception of the packets, the transmitting and receiving modules are used selectively on each hop, using a channel supported by the wireless stations at both ends of the hop. When two or more channels are available, the channel used is selected so as to balance channel usage in the system as a whole, or on the multi-hop path as a whole. Alternatively, each wireless station may have a fixed transmitting channel. Communication delays are reduced because channel switching overhead is eliminated.

Abstract: A signal relaying apparatus includes a plurality of devices for relaying signals to and from distant nodes in a wireless communication network. At least one of the devices is an antenna; the devices may also include one or more cables. The devices are connectable to a transmitter and a receiver in the apparatus. The receiver receives a signal from one node through one of the devices; the transmitter transmits the same signal to another node through another of the devices. The signal may also be amplified or buffered before being transmitted. Because the signal is transmitted and received through different devices, the transmission of a signal packet can begin while the packet is still being received, thereby shortening the delay from reception to transmission, as compared with the delay in conventional apparatus that both receives and transmits the packet through a single antenna.

Abstract: Each node or terminal in a communication network is capable of generating routing information for routing packets from an arbitrary source terminal to an arbitrary destination terminal on both a single-path route and a multipath route. The routing information is placed in packets transmitted to neighboring communication terminals, and analyzed in packets received from neighboring terminals. The single-path route is spatially or temporally separated from the multipath route so that the single-path route does not receive interference from the multipath route. Temporal separation may be effected by suspending the transmission of packets temporarily at each communication terminal on the multipath route. Spatial separation may be effected by using the routing information to designate different zones in the network, the single-path route being disposed in one zone, the multipath route in another zone.

Abstract: Routing schemes are provided for a communication network. In one scheme, destination terminals and associated neighboring terminals are listed in a routing control cache at each communication terminal in the network, and packets are routed toward the destination terminal through the associated neighboring terminals. In another scheme, a single path from a source terminal to a destination terminal is automatically expanded into multiple paths. In yet another scheme, packets are routed as long as this does not increase the number of hops to the destination terminal. These schemes enable multiple paths to be established by a simple procedure not requiring complex distance calculations. In still another scheme, routing is restricted to the shortest path and paths up to a given number of hops longer than the shortest path, permitting paths to diverge in multiple directions from the source and destination terminals.

Abstract: The ATM exchanges that a plurality of connections are established and a plurality of processes with respect to the plurality of connections having each having a transmission rate arise, the ATM exchange comprising a priority computing circuit which computes a priority of a process, according to a updating frequency of priority assigned to a connection to which the process is associated, a priority comparing circuit which compares a plurality of priorities corresponding to the plurality of processes to select a process having a higher priority among the plurality of processes, and a processing circuit which carries out the selected process.

Abstract: A processing rate monitoring apparatus includes an appearance interval counter for counting a packet interval in a monitored connection at a real number level, and a determining arrangement, operable each time a packet corresponding to a monitored connection is detected, to compare a count value on the appearance interval counter indicating a time elapsed from the previous detection to the detection of the packet with an allowed value for an appearance interval calculated from a transmission rate of the monitored connection to determine the presence or absence of a transmission rate violation in a current monitoring cycle.