High speed transfer of failure information in an ATM network

摘要

In a node (14) which is for use in an ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) network and which is supplied with user cells, the node includes a failure detecting section (11) for detecting a failure which is occurred in the ATM network such that no user cell is supplied to the node. The node further includes a band detecting section (12) for detecting, as a detected band, a transmission path band used in transferring the user cells immediately before occurrence of the failure. Connected to the failure detecting section and the band detecting section, a producing section (13) produces, when the failure detecting means detects the failure, OAM (Operation : Administration and Maintenance) cells at a production rate increased within a range such that the detected band is not exceeded. The OAM cells are for use in transferring information indicative of occurrence of the failure.