Abstract: In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises: a first component to perform coherent operations; and a coherent fabric logic coupled to the first component via a first component interface. The coherent fabric logic may be configured to perform full coherent fabric functionality for coherent communications between the first component and a second component coupled to the coherent fabric logic. The first component may include a packetization logic to communicate packets with the coherent fabric logic, but not include coherent interconnect interface logic to perform coherent fabric functionality. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Abstract: A method includes configuring a plurality of sub-bounding areas within a primary bounding area. An aggregate traffic message includes traffic information aggregated from the sub-bounding areas, and is broadcast throughout the primary bounding area. The roads within the primary bounding area are associated with road classifications, and individual traffic messages associated with those roads are generated. Sub-bounding areas within the primary bounding area are associated with particular road classifications. Individual traffic messages (for particular roads) are selected for inclusion in the aggregate traffic message (broadcast over the primary bounding area) if those messages are associated with a road having a road classification that matches a road classification of a sub-bounding area in which the road is located. The aggregate traffic message is generated by combining the selected individual traffic messages, and is transmitted to a station importer.

Abstract: A bandwidth management system includes a plurality of queues respectively corresponding to a plurality of zones. An enqueuing module receives network traffic from one or more incoming network interfaces, determines a belonging zone to which the network traffic belongs, and enqueues the network traffic on a queue corresponding to the belonging zone. A dequeuing module selectively dequeues data from the queues and passes the data to one or more outgoing network interfaces. When dequeuing data from the queues the dequeuing module dequeues an amount of data from a selected queue, and the amount of data dequeued from the selected queue is determined according to user load of a zone to which the selected queue corresponds.

Abstract: A method and arrangements providing QoS-aware routing of received session flows of separate communication sessions comprising Communication Content achieved and received from Lawful Interception of target sessions. The method comprises sorting each separate communication session into one of two groups, a first routing group and a second routing group, according to certain criteria wherein QoS is at least one of the criteria. Further, the method comprises routing communication sessions sorted into the first routing group via a regular handover interface and routing communication sessions sorted into the second routing group via an additional handover interface to a Law Enforcement Agency.

Abstract: In particular embodiments, a computing device accesses a device identifier that is encoded in the hardware of the computing device. The device identifier is used to generate a device key that will uniquely identify the particular computing device. The computing device stores the device key in a data store, and sends the device key to be stored on a first computer server. The computing device subsequently requests a user action from a second computer server, and the second computing server requests user authentication. The computing device generates a first authentication code using a cryptographic hash algorithm and the device key, and sends the first authentication code to the second computer server. The computing device is authenticated based on a second authentication code generated by the first computer server using the device key.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch in a network of interconnected switches. The switch includes a network extension module, which maintains a mapping between a first virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier and a first global VLAN identifier of a network extension group. The network extension group is represented by a range of global VLAN identifiers for a tenant. A global VLAN identifier is persistent in a respective switch of the network and represents a virtual forwarding domain in the network. During operation, the network extension module includes the global VLAN identifier in a packet belonging to the first VLAN.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating the return and forward links of a satellite communication system are provided according to embodiments of the invention. The phase and/or amplitude variations caused by the return and forward links are calculated and/or estimated to aid in beamforming, such as ground-based beamforming. Calibration earth stations, distributed within one or more beam patterns, may be used to transmit calibration codes to the gateway to calibrate the return link. Return links variations may be estimated using a weighted minimum mean square algorithm at the gateway. Forward links may be calibrated with calibration codes transmitted from the gateway through a hybrid matrix to at least one calibration station. Forward calibration links may also calibrate for temperature-dependent signal variations such as diplexer variations at the satellite.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a network-instructed handover of a wireless device from a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) to a Radio Access Network (RAN) of another Radio Access Technology (RAT), e.g., a 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) or 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) RAT. In one embodiment, a WLAN access node determines that a handover of a wireless device from the WLAN to another RAN of a different RAT is to be performed and transmits a handover instruction to the wireless device that instructs the wireless device to perform a handover from the WLAN to a RAN of a different RAT. In this manner, the WLAN access node is able to steer the wireless device from the WLAN to a RAN of a different RAT.

Abstract: In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of signalling in a communications network comprising a user equipment, a first radio access network, a second radio access network and a core network, the core network comprising a first packet switched network control node communicatively coupled to the first radio access network, a circuit switched network control node communicatively coupled to the first radio access network, and a second packet switched network control node communicatively coupled to the second radio access network, wherein the second packet switched network control node is capable of forming an association with the circuit switched network control node, in dependence on the user equipment performing an update to the second radio access network, to enable one or more features which employ said circuit switched network control node, the method comprising: receiving a first update of the user equipment from the first radio access network towards the first

Abstract: The present invention provides a service data transmission processing method and device and a communication system. The service data transmission processing method includes: receiving, by a service offloading apparatus, uplink service data sent by a user equipment; obtaining, by the service offloading apparatus, a service type of the uplink service data; and sending, by the service offloading apparatus, uplink service data, a service type of which is a core network service to a core network service proxy apparatus through a first service tunnel, or sending, by the service offloading apparatus, uplink service data, a service type of which is a non-core network service to a non-core network service proxy apparatus through a second service tunnel. The technical solutions can avoid excessive use of backhaul network resources of a core network by non-core network services.

Abstract: A method of routing packets between nodes of a packet switched network, the method comprising receiving a packet at a first node, the packet comprising routing information and payload data, sending said routing information to a second node in the routing path via a first transmission medium having a relatively high transmission speed, and sending said payload data to said second node via a second transmission medium having a relatively low transmission speed. Upon receipt of said routing information, said second node is able to prepare or begin preparation for onward routing of the packet in advance of receipt of said payload.

Abstract: An input control apparatus, which accepts input of data from the outside and inputs the data to a bus in a data processing system in which a plurality of communication units are connected by the bus in a ring shape and data processed by processing units are delivered via the bus, controls acceptance of data based on the number of data items which should be output outside, are suspended from output, and remain on the bus.

Abstract: Efficient and scalable source routed forwarding can be achieved in multi-domain networks by substituting path identifiers for intra-domain hop lists in source route hop lists. The path identifiers are then replaced with the corresponding intra-domain hop lists at the ingress edge nodes of each corresponding domain. The path identifiers do not specify individual hops along an intra-domain path segment, and are therefore typically shorter than the intra-domain hop lists. To facilitate multi-domain source routed forwarding techniques, routing tables in edge nodes of the corresponding domains are updated to associate the path identifiers with the corresponding intra-domain hop lists during (or immediately following) inter-domain path computation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer program product includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The embodied program instructions are readable/executable by a processor to receive, by the processor, a packet via a network fabric, the network fabric having a plurality of interconnected fabric switches. The embodied program instructions are also readable/executable by the processor to determine, by the processor, a path through the network fabric by consulting a source-routing table. Moreover, the embodied program instructions are readable/executable by the processor to store, by the processor, source-routing information to a packet header for the packet, the source-routing information including the path. In addition, the embodied program instructions are readable/executable by the processor to send, by the processor, the packet according to an indication in the source-routing information.

Abstract: A system and method for providing packet-switched telephony service. The system provides call control, signaling, and/or delivery of voice, video, and other media in substantially real time. One embodiment of the system includes a call client application on a user device, and a call server located at a packet-switched telephony service provider. The call server is preferably operable to communicate with the call client in a non-native protocol and with the gateway in a native protocol.

Abstract: A communication network messaging server (1, 100) and user devices (2, 102) have control channels (10, 21, 110) to send and receive control data. The server sends to an originating device control data indicating recipient availability, status, and/or presence prior to the originating device sending a message. The server control channel (110) includes a multiplexer (104) for streaming between a user message channel and the control channel and maintains device registration data, status data, presence data, and user group management data. The server (100) enables end user initiated availability, status, and/or presence updates to be shared with the messaging network and with recipient devices via said control channel.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments include a network management system for managing communications of a wireless device. The network management system includes memory for storing data and executable instructions; and a processing component in communication with the memory. In one embodiment, the processing component configured to execute the executable instructions to perform operations such as, but not limited to, receiving network performance information from a plurality of wireless access points; and sending an instruction to the wireless device that modifies at least one wireless connectivity parameter of the wireless device to improve communications on the wireless device based on the network performance information.

Abstract: Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are provided for facilitating voice call continuity in intersystem handover. A method may include determining that a user equipment device being handed over from a packet switched network to a circuit switched network is a party to a voice call in an alerting state. The method may further include providing session state information indicating that the user equipment device is a party to a voice call in an alerting state to a network entity on the circuit switched network in response to the determination. Corresponding systems, computer program products and apparatuses are also provided.

Abstract: An I/O unit includes a plurality of ports, a mixer includes processing channels, and the mixer and the I/O unit are interconnected via a network. The mixer stores channel data per processing channel. The channel data includes virtual port data for indirectly controlling signal processing of a port to which the channel is patched. The I/O unit stores real port data for controlling a signal processing in a corresponding port per port. In response to a connection instruction, one port and processing channels are interconnected, and real port data of the one port connected with the processing channels is set to a value of virtual port data being maintained for the processing channels.

Abstract: The described implementations relate to processing of electronic data. One implementation is manifest as one or more computer-readable storage devices comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to perform acts. The acts can include determining service levels provided by multiple network configurations, determining costs associated with the multiple network configurations, and evaluating the multiple network configurations based on both the costs and the service levels. The multiple network configurations can include redundantly-deployed devices. Furthermore, some implementations may determine cost/service level metrics that can be used to compare devices based on expected costs to provide a particular service level.

Abstract: A bandwidth management system includes a plurality of queues respectively corresponding to a plurality of zones. An enqueuing module receives network traffic from one or more incoming network interfaces, determines a belonging zone to which the network traffic belongs, and enqueues the network traffic on a queue corresponding to the belonging zone. A dequeuing module selectively dequeues data from the queues and passes the data to one or more outgoing network interfaces. When dequeuing data from the queues the dequeuing module dequeues an amount of data from a selected queue, and the amount of data dequeued from the selected queue is determined according to user load of a zone to which the selected queue corresponds.

Abstract: An optical network packet configured to transmit over an optical communication link from a first optical network having a first control plane to a second optical network having a second control plane is generated. Generating the optical network packet comprises generating the packet configured to be transmitted from the first optical network to the second optical network in the optical domain.

Abstract: Methods and systems of performing cell change for a circuit-switched call without a mobile station receiving a description of resources in a target cell are provided. In some embodiments, a command is generated at the serving cell which indicates to the mobile station to perform a cell change without first receiving a description of resources in the target cell. In some embodiments, a command is generated at the target cell which may be like a handover command, but which indicates to the mobile station to perform the cell change without an allocation of resources.

Abstract: A transmitting device includes a communication unit to transmit data through two or more networks including a first network and a second network, and a transmission controller to control the communication unit to transmit data to a receiving device through the first network, and transmit the data, which is to be transmitted to the receiving device through the first network, to the receiving device through the second network in response to a message from the receiving device indicating a data roundabout transmission request state of the receiving device with respect to the first network.

Abstract: A wireless access point apparatus for configuring a multiple data security tunnel, and a system having the same and a method thereof, and more particularly, a technology associated with a wireless access point apparatus that supports a wireless secure throughout all layers in a wireless network section. The wireless access point apparatus for configuring a multiple data security tunnel includes: a control security tunnel managing unit managing a control security tunnel that transfers policies and authentication information for wireless network access control and management; and a multiple data security tunnel managing unit creating a data security tunnel for each of a plurality of wireless terminals, while, creating and managing the multiple data security tunnel for each of application services of the plurality of wireless terminals.

Abstract: A node is configured to receive, from a second node, a request to establish a session; perform, in response to the request, a network address translation (NAT) operation to establish the session, the NAT operation causing a first port block to be allocated to the session, the first port block including a first set of ports via which traffic, associated with the session, is transported; determine that the set of ports are no longer available for the session; determine whether a quantity of times that the first port block has been allocated to the session is greater than a threshold; and retain the first port block, for the session, when the quantity of times that the first port block has been allocated to the session is not greater than the threshold.

Abstract: In accordance with one example embodiment, there is provided a system configured for virtual local area network (VLAN) blocking on a virtual port channel (vPC) member link to handle discrepant virtual network instance (VNI) to VLAN mappings. In other embodiments, the system can be configured for providing Virtual Switch Interface Discovery Protocol (VDP) and virtual switch enhancements to accommodate discrepant VNI to VLAN mappings. In another example embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a processor, and a memory coupled to the processor, where the apparatus is configured such that if a server is connected through a virtual port channel, a VDP is used to notify the server of different VNI to VLAN mappings. In another embodiment, the apparatus can extend a VDP Filter Info Field to carry a set of VLANs mapped to a VNI, keyed by leaf MAC addresses that serve as bridge identifiers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of selecting a public land mobile network (PLMN) for network sharing, and a method of communicating at a base station according to one embodiment of the present invention may include: receiving from a core network a handover request message including information on whether to support network sharing of user equipment (UE); selecting a PLMN identification (ID) by using information on whether to support network sharing of the UE; and transmitting the selected PLMN ID to the UE. According to one embodiment of the present invention, since a source base station, a target base station or a core network node may select a correct PLMN depending on the situation of UE when carrying out a handover, it is possible to decrease unnecessary signaling and errors in a network sharing situation.

Abstract: A method, system and computer program product are disclosed for maintaining a membership view of a distributed computing system comprising a multitude of members, wherein each of said members sends out a message indicating that said each of the members is available in the system. In one embodiment, the method comprises maintaining a first list of at least some of the members in the distributed system; and over a period of time, when one of the members sends out the message indicating that said one of the members is available in the distributed system, adding said one of the members to a second list. At defined times, the first list is replaced with the second list. In an embodiment, the method further comprises at said defined times, starting a new, empty second list.

Abstract: The technique relates to a method and system for providing a plurality of telecommunication services from disparate telecommunication service providers. This technique involves authenticating the client at the time of login to the system based on the received user credentials from the client. Displaying a list of available telecommunication services and service providers to the authenticated client and prompting the client to select one or more telecommunication services and service providers from whom the client wishes to avail the selected services. Once the client selects the desired services and service providers, it generates a service request and forward the same to the APIs of the selected service providers for rendering the selected services.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for hosting a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network. A communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device enabling the exchange of multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over multiple different IP based networks between the hybrid mobile device and the communications server. The hybrid mobile device determines a packet quality for each corresponding packet in the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams and creates a blended IP packet data media stream by selecting the highest quality packet from among the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams. On the send side, the hybrid mobile device fully and partially encodes an IP packet data stream to be sent out over the multiple different IP based networks to the communications server.

Abstract: A method is described for transferring a converged IP messaging (CPM) service based message using a server. The server transmits one or more messages via a one-to-one session established between a first terminal of a first user and a second terminal of a second user. The server receives a first session initiation protocol (SIP) invite message for extending the one-to-one session to a group session from the first terminal of the first user. The server extracts and locally stores various headers and IDs from the received first SIP invite message, and at least part of session description protocol (SDP) attributes with media streams from the received first SIP invite message if the first SIP invite message includes SDP content describing the media streams. The server transmits a second SIP invite message to the second terminal of the second user, and receives a termination message for terminating the one-to-one session.

Abstract: There is herein described a method for transmitting data packets from a first device through a switch to a second device. The method is performed at an intercepting device intermediate the first device and the switch device. The method comprises receiving a first data packet from the first device, determining that the first data packet is to be transmitted to the second device and determining whether the first data packet is of a first type that can not be transmitted from the intercepting device to the second device through the switch. If it is determined that the first data packet is of the first type, the method comprises encapsulating the first data packet within a second data packet, the second data packet being of a second type that can be transmitted from the intercepting device through the switch to the second device, and transmitting the second data packet through the switch to the second device.

Abstract: In general, the 1G-EPON standard specifies its upstream waveband broadly to allow for low cost lasers to be used to transmit upstream. Often, however, the lasers actually used by many 1G-ONUs to transmit upstream only occupy a narrow waveband that does not overlap with the upstream waveband specified by the 10G-EPON standard. The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods that exploit this fact to efficiently provide for the coexistence of 10G-EPON and 1G-EPON over the same set of optical fibers in the upstream direction.

Abstract: Examples are disclosed for hosting a communication session between a hybrid mobile device and a second communication device in an Internet Protocol (IP) based packet data network. A communications server functions as a bridge service between the hybrid mobile device and the second communication device enabling the exchange of multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams over multiple different IP based networks between the hybrid mobile device and the communications server. The communications server determines a packet arrival time for each corresponding packet in the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams and creates a blended IP packet data media stream by selecting the first to arrive packet from among the multiple concurrent IP packet data media streams. On the send side, the communications server receives a single IP packet data media stream and simultaneously encodes it to be sent out over the multiple different IP based networks to the hybrid mobile device.

Abstract: A data communication architecture delivers a wide variety of content, including audio and video content, to consumers. The architecture employs channel bonding to deliver more bandwidth than any single communication channel can carry. In some implementations, the communication architecture communicates content according to an initial bonding configuration. The communication architecture may adjust the bonding configuration to adapt to bonding environment changes affecting the communication capabilities or requirements associated with transmitting the content.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to computing devices and systems, as well as software, computer programs, applications, and interfaces, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods to activate telecommunications services. For example, a method may include configuring configuration data for a user account, the configuration data specifying a subset of telecommunications services for one or more user accounts, presenting in an interface an identifier for accessing the subset of telecommunications services, receiving data representing a request to activate the subset of telecommunications services associated with the identifier, the data representing the request including a user identification number, and activating the user account to include the subset of the telecommunications services, wherein configuring the configuration data occurs prior to presenting the identifier.

Abstract: A voice communication arrangement having a voice communication program installed in a computer loaded with a versatile OS thereon includes a voice data input/output function for passing through the OS voice data produced from voice sound captured by a microphone of the arrangement or received from another voice communication device, when connected to the arrangement, without being processed by the OS as audio data.

Abstract: A system and method for establishing a phone call over a packet network. The process may receive a call request from an originating call device to a termination call device. A determination may be made to determine whether the terminating call device is available. If the terminating call device is determined to be available, transmission path status information between the originating and terminating call devices may be retrieved. Status of the transmission path on the packet network between the originating and terminating call devices may be determined. If the status of the transmission path is determined to be within a first range, a call may be established between the originating and terminating call devices via an encoder/decoder (CODEC) having a first data rate. Otherwise, the call may be established between the originating and terminating call devices via a CODEC having a second, lower data rate.

Abstract: A network management system utilizes an element manager at the RNC level to reduce the workload and efficiently manage multiple wireless appliances in a mobile data network. Management communications from the network management system flow through the element manager to all devices under the RNC level appliance hosting the element manager. The element manager provides for fault management, performance monitoring and configuration of the many breakout appliances and reports necessary information back to the network management system.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is provided a facsimile apparatus connected to a home gateway, which is connected to an IP telephone network, via a communication line, the facsimile apparatus including a facsimile-signal detecting section configured to detect a facsimile identification signal in an incoming signal and a controller configured to instruct, when the facsimile identification signal is not detected in the incoming signal, using an SIP, the home gateway to perform a transfer operation for connecting a telephone set connected to the home gateway and a telephone set on an outgoing call side connected to the IP telephone network.

Abstract: A crossbar switch has N input ports, M output ports, and a switching matrix with N×M crosspoints. In an embodiment, each crosspoint contains an internal queue (XQ), which can store one or more packets to be routed. Traffic rates to be realized between all Input/Output (IO) pairs of the switch are specified in an N×M traffic rate matrix, where each element equals a number of requested cell transmission opportunities between each IO pair within a scheduling frame of F time-slots. An efficient algorithm for scheduling N traffic flows with traffic rates based upon a recursive and fair decomposition of a traffic rate vector with N elements, is proposed. To reduce memory requirements a shared row queue (SRQ) may be embedded in each row of the switching matrix, allowing the size of all the XQs to be reduced. To further reduce memory requirements, a shared column queue may be used in place of the XQs.

Abstract: The present invention provides an effective technique for routing calls to one or more telephony terminals through a traditional telephony line as well as via a packet network. A terminal adapter is provided at a customer premise and supports multiple telephony terminals, which may be associated with the same or different directory numbers. For incoming calls, the telephony switch will determine whether to route the call over the traditional telephony line or through the packet network to the terminal adapter, which will facilitate the connection with one or more of the telephony terminals. The incoming calls can be routed to a specific telephony terminal based on incoming call indicia. The terminal adapter can initiate outgoing calls from the supported telephony terminals over the traditional telephony line or via the packet network to the telephony switch. Whether incoming or outgoing calls are routed through the telephony line or the packet network depends on system configuration and existing conditions.

Abstract: A method of sending data to a switch fabric includes assigning a destination port of an output module to a data packet based on at least one field in a first header of the data packet. A module associated with a first stage of the switch fabric is selected based on at least one field in the first header. A second header is appended to the data packet. The second header includes an identifier associated with the destination port of the output module. The data packet is sent to the module associated with the first stage. The module associated with the first stage is configured to send the data packet to a module associated with a second stage of the switch fabric based on the second header.

Abstract: A circuit and method of operation for a circuit of a radio system in which a system time is divided into symbols, in which a system clock generator is activated in an operating mode, so that the system time is determined from an output clock signal of the system clock generator by counting, in which the system clock generator is deactivated in a sleep mode, in which an output clock signal of a sleep clock generator is blanked as a function of an output signal of a modulo divider in the sleep mode, and the system time is determined by counting, wherein an output frequency of the output clock signal of the sleep clock generator is a non-integer multiple of a symbol frequency, in which the modulo divider divides the output clock signal of the sleep clock generator by a division factor, and in which the division factor of the modulo divider is produced by changing between at least two integer divisor values.

Abstract: A system for deploying Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services is provided. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a Call Session Control Function (CSCF) having a controller element to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)message from an originating communication device requesting communications with a terminating communication device, and establish an Internet Protocol (IP) connection between the originating communication device and an advertisement media system to present at the originating communication device an advertisement message that replaces a ringback tone associated with the terminating communication device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method includes receiving in a network element a packet, which includes a delay field that indicates an overall time delay accumulated by the packet until arriving at the network element. Upon receiving the packet, an interim value is substituted in the delay field. The interim value is indicative of a difference between the overall time delay and an arrival time of the packet at the network element. Before sending the packet from the network element, the overall time delay is updated in the delay field based on the interim value and on a departure time at which the packet is to exit the network element. The packet, including the updated overall time delay, is transmitted from the network element.

Abstract: Methods and systems for calibrating the return and forward links of a satellite communication system are provided according to embodiments of the invention. The phase and/or amplitude variations caused by the return and forward links are calculated and/or estimated to aid in beamforming, such as ground-based beamforming. Calibration earth stations, distributed within one or more beam patterns, may be used to transmit calibration codes to the gateway to calibrate the return link. Return links variations may be estimated using a weighted minimum mean square algorithm at the gateway. Forward links may be calibrated with calibration codes transmitted from the gateway through a hybrid matrix to at least one calibration station. Forward calibration links may also calibrate for temperature-dependent signal variations such as diplexer variations at the satellite.

Abstract: An information handling system includes a network switching device coupled to a network and a host processing system. The network switching device includes a physical link with an associated virtual link. The host processing system includes a virtual machine and a network interface device coupled to the physical link. The network interface device includes a virtual network interface associated with the virtual machine. The virtual link is associated with the virtual network interface such that communication between the network and the virtual machine is provided via the virtual link and the virtual network interface.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes multiple processing means that are connected in a ring shape via corresponding communication means respectively. Each communication means includes a reception means for receiving data from a previous communication means, and a transmission means for transmitting data to a next communication means. Connection information is assigned to each of the reception means and the transmission means. The communication means, when receiving a packet that has same connection information as one assigned to its reception means, causes the corresponding processing means to perform data processing on the packet, sets the connection information assigned to its transmission means to the packet, and transmits the packet to the next communication means, and when receiving a packet that has connection information that is not same as one assigned to its reception means, transmits the packet to the next communication means without changing the connection information of the packet.