Importance

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Abstract

A cell/packet assembly and disassembly apparatus is provided for efficiently connecting a line in a line switching system to an ATM network or a packet network, without causing congestion, to transmit and receive cells or packets therebetween. The cell/packet assembly and disassembly apparatus, upon detecting a call setting request outputted from a line switch board in response to a call originated from a terminal, starts cell assembly and cell disassembly of user information transmitted and received between a channel on a line in the line switching system corresponding to the call setting request and a virtual channel on the ATM network assigned to the channel. Also, when detecting a call setting request outputted from a predetermined virtual channel in the ATM network, the packet or cell assembly and disassembly apparatus starts cell assembly and cell disassembly of user information transmitted and received between the virtual channel on the ATM network corresponding to this call setting request and a channel on a line in the channel switching system assigned to the virtual channel. Further, when detecting the reception of a call disconnect request from the line switch board or from a predetermined virtual channel in the ATM network, the packet or cell assembly and disassembly apparatus stops the cell assembly and the cell disassembly of the user information transmitted and received between the corresponding virtual channel and the channel on the line in the line switching system.

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First Claim