To attain flexible path selection such that data are transferred via an interface when the transfer by the interface is available, and a different path is selected, depending on property of data by setting plural paths to the same destination and setting filter information to each interface.
A relay node 1 is composed of transmission reception interfaces 3-8, a buffer 9, a CPU 10 and a memory 11 which are all connected to a bus 2. Filter information (packet passing condition set to each interface) and path information (available interfaces set to each destination address and their priority) are stored in advance in the memory 11. In the case of receiving a packet, at first the filter information to each interface is referred and interfaces able to send the packet are selected as path objects. Then an interface to send the packet is selected among interfaces through which the packet can be transferred, depending on the path information.
OHARA KENJI
DOI EIJI
