Packet switching equipment and a packet switching method for controlling

Abstract

In order to enable an expansion of a packet switched network and a constitution change thereof to be readily achieved in a multistage switched network constitution, in a packet switched network including a packet data terminal, a packet switching equipment, a PBX, a multiplexer, an LAN, a voice communication apparatus such as a telephone set, and a facsimile or in a linkage between switching modules in a packet switching apparatus, the basic switching modules called configuration units connected to the network are interconnected to each other to form a hierarchic tree structure of which the number of hierarchic levels can be selected depending on a size of the packet switched network. Furthermore, in order to increase the reliability of the packet data transfer in the multi-stage switched network configuration, there are disposed a plurality of connecting lines between bit switches and upper-level configuration units so as to establish a redundant configuration.