ATM GROUP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain communication between computers belonging to a prescribed group by referring a grouping table, returning an address resolution protocol reply packet by a 1st server means when a terminal computer belongs to the same group and allowing a 2nd server means to send a broadcast packet only to terminals of the same group. SOLUTION: A grouping table denoting a group to which a terminal computer 26 and a LAN emulation client 23 belong is provided on a group management server 13. A LAN emulation server 11 refers the table and returns an address resolution protocol reply packet when a terminal belongs to the same group and returns no reply packet with respect to a request packet from other groups than the same group. A broadcast server 12 sends a broadcast packet only to a terminal computer of the same group or a packet not connected directly to an ATM channel between terminal computers.