Packet communication apparatus provided with manager means for managing packet labels

摘要

A packet communication apparatus is provided 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 each destination apparatus. A plurality of application units respectively provide a plurality of functions which are independent of each other, and each application unit requests for issuing a label in accordance with start of a process of the function, and returns the issued label upon completion of the same process of the function. One common memory is provided in common for a plurality of application units, and stores a plurality of labels added to a header of each packet to distinguish a plurality of packets whose destination apparatus is identical. Further, a label manager allows and inhibits use of respective labels stored in the common memory, and issues the labels stored in the common memory 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 the sequence of communication.