IP switch, interface circuit and ATM switch used for IP switch, and IP switch network system

A packet communication apparatus comprising:

• a receiving port which receives a first packets;
• a switch which switches the first packets received at the receiving port;
• a first packet transform section which receives, through the switch section, the first packets received by the receiving port, and assembles the first packets into a second packet;
• a packet processing section which processes the second packet transformed from the first packets by the first packet transform section;
• a second packet transform section which disassembles the second packet processed by the packet processing section into the first packets and sends the first packets the switch;
• and
• a sending port which receives the first packets sent from the second packet transform section through the switch, and sends the first packets;
• wherein the switch which sets the first virtual connection which leads through the first packet transform section, the packet processing section and the second packet transform section for transferring the received the first packets through the sending port, and which sets the second virtual connection which leads through the switch for transferring the received the first packets to te sending port;
• wherein the switch transfers the received the first packets with the first virtual connection until the first packets comprising the second at least one packet of data have been switched, when the switch receives a virtual connection change request received from the packet processing section to change from the first connection tot the second virtual connection.