Path setting method and communication apparatus in communication network performing communications through a plurality of layers

A path setting method in a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing communication between a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus for which a path setting is carried out by repeating through at least another communication apparatus in the middle of the path,

• said path setting method in a communication network performing communication via a plurality of layers comprising:
• judging existence of a possibility of reaching said second communication apparatus in said higher layer in said repeating use communication apparatus existing in the middle of the path, after a higher layer path setting request message requesting the path setting by said higher layer from said first communication apparatus to said second communication apparatus is originated;
• generating a lower layer path setting request message requesting a path setting by said lower layer in said repeating use communication apparatus when it is judged there is no possibility of reaching the apparatus in said “judging” step, then taking out route designating information and bandwidth information in said received higher layer path setting request message and transmitting said lower layer path setting request message obtained by further adding the taken out information toward said second communication apparatus;
• and
• notifying said lower layer path setting request message transmitted in said second step to each said repeating use communication apparatus on a route reaching said second communication apparatus.

A path setting method in a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing communication between a first communication apparatus and a second communication apparatus for which a path setting is carried out by repeating through at least another communication apparatus in the middle of the path,

• said path setting method in a communication network performing communication via a plurality of layers comprising:
• judging existence of a possibility of reaching said second communication apparatus in said higher layer in said repeating use communication apparatus in the middle of the path, after a higher layer path setting request message requesting the path setting by said higher layer from said first communication apparatus to said second communication apparatus is originated;
• generating a lower layer path setting request message requesting the path setting by said lower layer in said repeating use communication apparatus when it is judged there is no possibility of reaching the apparatus in said “judging” step, then combining the received higher layer path setting request message itself with said lower layer path setting request message as it is and transmitting the same toward said second communication apparatus;
• and
• notifying the higher/lower layer path setting request message combined with said higher layer path setting request message transmitted in said “generating” step to each said repeating use communication apparatus on the route reaching said second communication apparatus.

A communication apparatus forming part of a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing the communication via the paths, comprising:

• a receiving function unit receiving a lower layer path setting request message transmitted from another communication apparatus on the upstream side instead of a higher layer path setting request message received at this communication apparatus;
• a determining function unit determining another communication apparatus on the downstream side located at the closest position able to terminate said received lower layer path setting request message;
• and
• a transmitting function unit adding route designating information obtained by said determination to said lower layer path setting request message and transmitting the same.

A communication apparatus forming part of communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing communication via the paths, comprising:

• a judging function unit receiving a lower layer path setting request message from another communication apparatus on the upstream side and judging whether or not route designating information and bandwidth information included in a higher layer path setting request message received at said other communication apparatus is added in this received message;
• an inputting function unit taking out said route designating information and bandwidth information judged to be added in said judging function unit and inputting these to a mechanism for determining the route of the path of the lower layer to be set on the downstream side;
• and
• a transmitting function unit generating a lower layer path setting request message including path route designating information based on the determination in said mechanism and, at the same time, adding route designating information and bandwidth information included in said higher layer path setting request message thereto and transmitting the same.

A communication apparatus forming part of a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing the communication via the paths, comprising:

• a judging function unit receiving a lower layer path setting acknowledgement message directed to the upstream side from another communication apparatus on the downstream side and judging whether or not a higher layer path setting acknowledgement message is included in this received message;
• a takeout function unit taking out said higher layer path setting acknowledgement message judged to be included by said judging function unit;
• and
• a label allotting function unit allotting a label corresponding to said taken out message.

A communication apparatus forming part of a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing communication via the paths, comprising:

• a judging function unit judging whether or not a higher layer path setting request message transmitted on said upstream side is combined with a lower layer path setting request message received from another communication apparatus on the upstream side;
• a label allotting function unit allotting a label to a path corresponding to the higher/lower layer path setting request message judged as combined by said judging function unit;
• and
• a composite acknowledgement message generating function unit generating a higher/lower layer path acknowledgement message including said allotted label for each path of the higher/lower layer.

A communication apparatus forming part of a communication network having a path of a higher layer and a path of a lower layer formed in a hierarchy and performing communication via the paths, comprising:

• a judging function unit judging whether or not a higher layer path setting request message transmitted on said upstream side is combined with a lower layer path setting request message received from another communication apparatus on the upstream side;
• an inputting function unit taking out said route designating information and bandwidth information judged to be combined in said judging function unit and inputting this to the mechanism for determining the route of the path of the lower layer to be set on the downstream side;
• and
• a path setting request composition function unit generating a lower layer path setting request message including the route designating information by said determination and, at the same time, combining said received higher layer path setting request message with this, and transmitting this toward said destination of communication.