Packet communication apparatus provided with manager means for managing packet labels

A packet communication apparatus for transmitting a packet with a label for distinguishing each packet to each destination apparatus, and receiving a response packet with the same label transmitted from said each destination apparatus, comprising:

• a plurality of application units for respectively providing a plurality of functions which are independent of each other, each application unit requesting for issuing a label in accordance with start of a process of said function, and returning the issued label upon completion of the same process of said function;
• one common storage means for storing a plurality of labels added to a header of each packet to distinguish a plurality of packets whose destination apparatus is identical, said common storage means being provided in common for said plurality of application units;
• and
• label manager means for allowing and inhibiting use of respective labels stored in said common storage means, said label manager means issuing labels stored in said common storage means in accordance with a request for issuing the labels so that labels attached to all packets transmitted to the same destination apparatus are different from each other by inhibiting use of the labels which has been already allowed for a sequence of communication until completion of said sequence of communication.