Congestion control system for controlling congestion in switching cells

Claim 2

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a first congestion detector to detect first congestion information within a cell to be sent to a destination terminal unit identified by a first routing control; and a second congestion information transmitter to transmit to a source terminal unit a cell having a second routing control associated with the first routing control and second congestion information for notifying the source terminal unit of a congestion state, wherein the source terminal that receives the cell is a terminal unit that previously transmitted another cell that caused the congestion state.

Claim 3

A congestion control system for use in switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a first congestion detector to detect first congestion information within a cell to be sent to a destination terminal unit identified by a first routing control, a second congestion information transmitter to transmit to a source terminal unit a cell having a second routing control associated with the first routing control and second congestion information for notifying the source terminal unit of a congestion state, wherein the first congestion information is used for notifying the destination terminal unit of a congestion state; and the first congestion detector detects the first congestion information together with virtual communications line information set in the cell, and the second congestion information transmitter transmits transmit to the source terminal unit the cell in which information identical to the virtual information and the second congestion information indicating the congestion state.

Claim 4

A congestion control system for use in switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a first congestion detector to detect first congestion information within a cell to be sent to a destination terminal unit identified by a first routing control, a second congestion information transmitter to transmit to a source terminal unit a cell having a second routing control associated with the first routing control and second congestion information for notifying the source terminal unit of a congestion state, wherein the first congestion information is used for notifying the destination terminal unit of a congestion state; and the first congestion detector detects the first congestion information together with virtual communications line information set in the cell, and the second congestion information transmitter transmits transmit to the source terminal unit the cell in which information identical to the virtual information and the second congestion information indicating the congestion state.

Claim 5

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detect first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitted from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; and a congestion information transmitter to transmit toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set, wherein the source terminal that receives the second cell is a terminal unit that caused the congestion state of the cell transmission.

Claim 6

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detect first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitted from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; and a congestion information transmitter to transmit toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set, wherein the source terminal that receives the second cell is a terminal unit that caused the congestion state of the cell transmission.

Claim 7

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising: a first congestion setter to set the first congestion information into the cell when the cell is a low-priority cell in which cell loss priority level information indicating that a priority level for a cell loss in a virtual communications line is low is set.

Claim 8

The congestion control system according to claim 4 further comprising: a second congestion setter to set the first congestion information into a high-priority cell in which cell loss priority level information indicating that the priority level for the cell loss in the virtual communications line is high is set.

Claim 9

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detect first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitted from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a congestion information transmitter to transmit transmitting means for transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a storage to store virtual communications line information together with corresponding band information; wherein the congestion detector detects detect virtual communications line information set in the cell; and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to virtual communications line information detected by said congestion detector and stored in said storage are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band information corresponding to virtual communications line information stored in said storage.

Claim 10

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detect first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitted from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a congestion information transmitter to transmit transmitting means for transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a storage to store virtual communications line information together with corresponding band information; wherein the congestion detector detects detect virtual communications line information set in the cell; and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to virtual communications line information detected by said congestion detector and stored in said storage are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band information corresponding to virtual communications line information stored in said storage.

Claim 11

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detects first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitted from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a congestion information transmitter to transmit toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a storage to store virtual communications line information, together with corresponding band information, of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band indicated by the corresponding band information; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information set in the cell; and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information stored in said storage and identical to virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 12

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detects first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitted from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a congestion information transmitter to transmit toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a storage to store virtual communications line information, together with corresponding band information, of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band indicated by the corresponding band information; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information set in the cell; and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information stored in said storage and identical to virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 13

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detect first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitted from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a congestion information transmitter to transmit toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a storage to store virtual communications line information together with corresponding band information; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information set in the cell; and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information which is identical to the virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector, stored in the storage, and having the corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 14

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detect first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitted from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a congestion information transmitter to transmit toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a storage to store virtual communications line information together with corresponding band information; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information set in the cell; and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information which is identical to the virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector, stored in the storage, and having the corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 15

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising; a storage to store virtual communications line information having corresponding band information which indicate a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information set in the cell, and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information stored in said storage and identical to the virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 16

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising: a congestion state detector to determine congestion state relating to the cell by comparing a congestion threshold and subscriber priority level information which is set in the cell and indicate a priority level of a subscriber who communicate the cell, and a congestion information setter to set the first congestion information into the cell according to the determination by the congestion state detector.

Claim 17

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising: a congestion state detector to determine congestion state relating to the cell by comparing a congestion threshold and cell-loss priority level information which is set in the cell and indicate a priority level for a cell-loss in a virtual communications line of the cell, and a congestion information setter to set the first congestion information into the cell according to the determination by the congestion state detector.

Claim 18

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising: a storage to store, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information indicating virtual communications line each corresponding to the subscribers and band information for the virtual communications lines; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell, and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector and stored in regions of the storage which correspond to priority levels detected by the congestion detector are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band information corresponding to virtual communications line information stored in said storage.

Claim 19

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising: a storage to store, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information, together with corresponding band information, of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band indicated by the corresponding band information; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell, and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector and stored in regions of said storage which correspond to priority levels detected by the congestion detector are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels.

Claim 20

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising: a storage to store for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information indicating virtual communications lines each corresponding to the subscribers and band information for the virtual communications lines; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell, and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector and stored in regions of the storage which correspond to priority levels detected by the congestion detector are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information having corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value.

Claim 21

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising: a storage to store, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information having the corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value; wherein the congestion detector detects virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell, and the congestion information transmitter transmits cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to virtual communications line information detected by the congestion detector and stored in regions of said storage which correspond to priority levels detected by the congestion detector are set, toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels.

Claim 22

The congestion control system according to claim 3, further comprising: a second congestion information detector to receive said second call and detects said second congestion information and virtual communications line information from the second cell; and a controller to control an inflow of cells in a virtual communications line indicated by virtual communications line information detected by the second congestion information detector according to second congestion information detected by the second congestion information detector.

Claim 23

The congestion control system according to claim 16, wherein said second congestion information detector detect a number of second cells received in a predetermined unit time; and said controller restricts at a predetermined rate the inflow of the cells in the virtual communications line when said second congestion information detector detects the second cells of a number equal to or larger than a predetermined value in the predetermined unit time.

Claim 24

The congestion control system according to claim 17, wherein said controller relaxes at a predetermined rate a restriction on the inflow of the cells in the virtual communications line when said second congestion information detector detects the second cells of a number of smaller than a predetermined value in the predetermined unit time.

Claim 25

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detect congestion in a cell communications line and output first congestion information indicating the congestion; and a congestion information transmitter to detect the first congestion information output by the congestion detector and transmit a cell, in which second congestion information indicating the congestion is set, toward a source terminal of a cell communicated in the cell communications line, where the source terminal that receives the cell is a terminal unit that previously transmitted another cell that caused the congestion in the cell communication line.

Claim 26

A congestion control system for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, comprising: a congestion detector to detect congestion in a cell communications line and output first congestion information indicating the congestion; and a congestion information transmitter to detect the first congestion information output by the congestion detector and transmit a cell, in which second congestion information indicating the congestion is set, toward a source terminal of a cell communicated in the cell communications line, where the source terminal that receives the cell is a terminal unit that previously transmitted another cell that caused the congestion in the cell communication line.

Claim 27

The congestion control system according to claim 19, further comprising: a controller to receive a cell having the second congestion information and control a cell inflow of the cell communications line.

Claim 28

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including the steps of: detecting first congestion information set in a cell to be sent to a destination terminal unit identified by a first routing control; and transmitting to a source terminal unit a cell having a second routing control associated with the first routing control and second congestion information for notifying the source terminal unit of a congestion state, wherein the source terminal that receives the cell is a terminal unit that previously transmitted another cell that caused the congestion state.

Claim 29

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including the steps of: detecting first congestion information set in a cell to be sent to a destination terminal unit identified by a first routing control; and transmitting to a source terminal unit a cell having a second routing control associated with the first routing control and second congestion information for notifying the source terminal unit of a congestion state, wherein the source terminal that receives the cell is a terminal unit that previously transmitted another cell that caused the congestion state.

Claim 30

A congestion control method for use in switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; and a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set, wherein the source terminal unit that receives the second cell is a terminal unit that caused the congestion state of the cell transmission.

Claim 31

A congestion control method for use in switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; and a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set, wherein the source terminal unit that receives the second cell is a terminal unit that caused the congestion state of the cell transmission.

Claim 32

The congestion control method according to claim 22, further including a step of: setting the first congestion information into the cell when the cell is a low-priority cell in which cell loss priority level information indicating that a priority level for a cell loss in a virtual communications line is low is set.

Claim 33

The congestion control method according to claim 23 further including a step of: setting the first congestion information into a high-priority cell in which cell loss priority level information indicating that the priority level for the cell loss in the virtual communications line is high is set.

Claim 34

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing virtual communications line information together with corresponding band information in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in said storage are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band information corresponding to virtual communications line information stored in said storage.

Claim 35

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing virtual communications line information together with corresponding band information in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in said storage are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band information corresponding to virtual communications line information stored in said storage.

Claim 36

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing virtual communications line information, together with corresponding band information, of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band indicated by the corresponding band information in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information stored in said storage and identical to the detected virtual communications line information are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 37

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing virtual communications line information, together with corresponding band information, of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band indicated by the corresponding band information in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information stored in said storage and identical to the detected virtual communications line information are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 38

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing virtual communications line information together with corresponding band information in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information which is identical to the detected virtual communications line information, stored in the storage, and having the corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 39

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing virtual communications line information together with corresponding band information in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information which is identical to the detected virtual communications line information, stored in the storage, and having the corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 40

A congestion control method for use in switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing virtual communications line information having corresponding band information which indicate a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information stored in said storage and identical to the detected virtual communications line information are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 41

A congestion control method for use in switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing virtual communications line information having corresponding band information which indicate a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information stored in said storage and identical to the detected virtual communications line information are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells.

Claim 42

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a third step of determining congestion state relating to the cell by comparing a congestion threshold and subscriber priority level information which is set in the cell and indicate a priority level of a subscriber who communicate the cell; and a fourth step of setting the first congestion information into the cell according to the determination in the third step.

Claim 43

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a third step of determining congestion state relating to the cell by comparing a congestion threshold and subscriber priority level information which is set in the cell and indicate a priority level of a subscriber who communicate the cell; and a fourth step of setting the first congestion information into the cell according to the determination in the third step.

Claim 44

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a third step of determining congestion state relating to the cell by comparing a congestion threshold and cell-loss priority level information which is set in the cell and indicate a priority level for a cell-loss in a virtual communications line of the cell; and a fourth step of setting the first congestion information into the cell according to the determination in the third step.

Claim 45

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a third step of determining congestion state relating to the cell by comparing a congestion threshold and cell-loss priority level information which is set in the cell and indicate a priority level for a cell-loss in a virtual communications line of the cell; and a fourth step of setting the first congestion information into the cell according to the determination in the third step.

Claim 46

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information indicating virtual communications lines each corresponding to the subscribers and band information for the virtual communications lines in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in regions of the storing means which correspond to the detected priority levels are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band information corresponding to virtual communications line information stored in said storage.

Claim 47

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information indicating virtual communications lines each corresponding to the subscribers and band information for the virtual communications lines in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in regions of the storing means which correspond to the detected priority levels are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band information corresponding to virtual communications line information stored in said storage.

Claim 48

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information, together with corresponding band information, of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band indicated by the corresponding band information in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in regions of said storing means which correspond to the detected priority levels are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels.

Claim 49

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information, together with corresponding band information, of a predetermined number of pieces in order from largest in band indicated by the corresponding band information in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in regions of said storing means which correspond to the detected priority levels are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels.

Claim 50

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information indicating virtual communications lines each corresponding to the subscribers and band information for the virtual communications lines in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in regions of the storage which correspond to the detected priority levels are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information having corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value.

Claim 51

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information indicating virtual communications lines each corresponding to the subscribers and band information for the virtual communications lines in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in regions of the storage which correspond to the detected priority levels are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels, the virtual communications line information set in the cells being information having corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value.

Claim 52

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information having the corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in regions of said storage which correspond to the detected priority levels are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels.

Claim 53

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; storing, for each of priority levels for cell communications of subscribers, virtual communications line information having the corresponding band information indicating a band equal to or larger than a predetermined value in a storage; and detecting virtual communications line information and priority level of a subscriber set in the cell; wherein in the second step, cells, in which virtual communications line information identical to the detected virtual communications line information and stored in regions of said storage which correspond to the detected priority levels are set, are transmitted toward source terminals corresponding to the cells according to priority levels.

Claim 54

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a third step of receiving said second cell and detecting said second congestion information and virtual communications line information from the second cell; and a fourth step of controlling an inflow of cells in a virtual communications line indicated by virtual communications line information detected in the third step according to second congestion information detected in the third step.

Claim 55

A congestion control method for use in a switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting first congestion information which is set in a cell transmitting from a source terminal to a destination terminal and indicates a congestion state of a cell transmission; a second step of transmitting toward the source terminal a second cell in which second congestion information for notifying the source terminal of the congestion state is set; a third step of receiving said second cell and detecting said second congestion information and virtual communications line information from the second cell; and a fourth step of controlling an inflow of cells in a virtual communications line indicated by virtual communications line information detected in the third step according to second congestion information detected in the third step.

Claim 56

The congestion control method according to claim 35, wherein a number of second cells received in a predetermined unit time are detected in the third step; and in the fourth step, the inflow of the cells in the virtual communications line is restricted at a predetermined rate when the second cells of a number equal to or larger than a predetermined value are detected in the predetermined unit time in the third step.

Claim 57

The congestion control method according to claim 36, wherein in the fourth step, a restriction on the inflow of the cells in the virtual communications line is relaxed at a predetermined rate when the second cells of a number smaller than a predetermined value are detected in the predetermined unit time in the third step.

Claim 58

A congestion control method for use in switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting congestion in a cell communications line and outputting first congestion information indicating the congestion; and a second step of detecting the first congestion information output in the first step and transmitting a cell, in which second congestion information indicating the congestion is set, toward a source terminal of a cell communicated in the cell communications line, wherein the source terminal that receives the cell is a terminal unit that previously transmitted another cell that caused the congestion in the cell communications line.

Claim 59

A congestion control method for use in switching system for switching fixed length cells including a header for routing control and data, including: a first step of detecting congestion in a cell communications line and outputting first congestion information indicating the congestion; and a second step of detecting the first congestion information output in the first step and transmitting a cell, in which second congestion information indicating the congestion is set, toward a source terminal of a cell communicated in the cell communications line, wherein the source terminal that receives the cell is a terminal unit that previously transmitted another cell that caused the congestion in the cell communications line.

Claim 60

The congestion control method according to claim 38, further including a step of: receiving a cell having the second congestion information and controlling a cell inflow of the cell communications line.