Network control method and apparatus therefor

Abstract

A network management system prepares an optimum configuration table corresponding to a failure of a transit trunk and distributes the same to each TDM, and thereby the optimization of reconfiguration of a high-speed digital network is enabled. User data are transmitted and received in accordance with route information table defined beforehand in each TDM. On the other hand, network management information is sent to all trunks other than a receiving trunk for the managing information when flooding is designated by the network management system. Accordingly, the management information can be sent without fail if any route to the TDM to be supplied with the management information exists. When source-routing is designated, the communications of the managing information can be implemented efficiently, since the route is set by the management information. Moreover, each packet exchanger provides route identifiers defined individually for correspondence to local trunks, and transit route information set in each packet is recorded by using the route identifiers of each packet exchanger. Route information determined in the flooding process is then used in subsequent source-routed communications.