Patent attributes
In a conventional “distributed” integrated network node architecture, specific judgment processes cannot be executed in any routing and transferring unit. The routing and transferring unit is required to share judgment process related information with an enhanced processing unit or other routing and transferring units. Thus, when using enhanced processing units, manufacturing costs increase, while processing speed decreases when routing and transferring units cooperate. If any flow is disposed during a transfer from a packet transferring unit in a routing and transferring unit to a processing unit, the packet is disposed regardless of packet priority. In the present invention, a packet related to a specific judgment process is always transmitted to a specific routing and transferring unit from a line interface unit. If an inputted flow is over the transferring capacity, the line interface unit analyzes the packet header and determines the type, transport priority, and disposal priority of the packet.
